Alexei Chirikov discovered the Aleutian Islands. He also chartered them. Born in 1703, he was one of Russia's finest explorers and navigators. He was not the only one however, to discover the Aleutian Islands, he did this along with Vitus Bering, who was a danish explorer but officer in the Russian navy. As well as being an explorer and navigator, it is important to note that Chirikov was a captain. Chirikov often worked under the direction of Bering.