Guldenstaedt, John Antony

, a celebrated traveller, of whose various performances a list is given in “Coxe’s Travels,” vol. I. p. 162, was born at Riga, in 1745. On account of his great skill in natural history and knowledge of foreign languages, he was invited to Petersburg, where he was made professor. He was absent three years on his travels. He first went to Astracan and KisJar, and afterwards to the eastern extremity of Caucasus. Here he collected vocabularies of the language spoken in those parts, and discovered some traces of Christianity among the people. He next proceeded to Georgia, was introduced to prince Heraclius, and carefully examined the adjacent country. He then explored the southern districts, inhabited by the Turcoman Tartars, and penetrating into the middle chain of Mount Caucasus, visited Mingrelia, Middle Georgia, and Eastern and the Lower Imeretia. It was his intention next to have journeyed to Crim Tartary, but he was recalled to Petersburg, where he died of a fever in March 1781. His death was much regretted, as he was a man possessed of every requisite for the accomplishment of the purposes which he had in view. ¹