Pallas Petr Simonovich 
(22.09.1741–08.09.1811)

Russian naturalist, member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences, a German by nationality. He is one of the most prominent natural scientists of the XVIII century, the greatest researcher of the nature of Russia. 
Born in Berlin, in the family of a professor-surgeon. Up to 13 years old he studied at home. 
Pallas studied natural history in Germany, Holland, England. In 1754–1758 he attended lectures at the Berlin Medical Surgical College and in 1760, at the age of 19, defended his doctoral dissertation in Latin at Leiden University. In 1767  Pallas was recommended to Catherine II as a brilliant scientist, able to perform research on the nature and economy of Russia. Having moved to Russia, in 1768 he became a professor at St. Petersburg University. 
On the instructions of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences, Pallas led expeditions to many parts of Russia. During 1768–1774 he, along with students N.P. Sokolov and V.F. Zuev, future academicians, examined the vast territory of Russia up to Eastern Siberia and the border with China, studied the Lower Volga, the Caspian lowland, the Urals, Khakassia and Dauria in more detail. During his travels, he collected and subsequently processed extensive geological, botanical, ethnographic and other materials, information about the natural wealth of the surveyed areas, mining, forestry, and agriculture. A special place was occupied by zoological studies, which resulted in the discovery and description of a large number of new species of animals. 
Catherine II commissioned Pallas to teach natural history to her grandchildren, Grand Dukes Alexander Pavlovich (the future Emperor Alexander I) and Konstantin Pavlovich. 
In the early 1790s  Pallas, for reasons not completely understood, fell into disgrace. At its own expense in 1793–1794  he traveled to the south of Russia and the Crimea, and then received permission to settle in the Shulu estate granted to Catherine II. Despite isolation from the scientific world, Pallas continued to work actively. 
From 1810 he lived in Berlin, where he died and buried. The inscription on the tombstone reads: “Peter Simon Pallas of Berlin, a knight, academician of St. Petersburg, who spent much in the abandoned lands for the nature of things he had spent research, finally rests here. Born on September 22, 1741. He died on September 8, 1811. A monument with an inscription on his instructions was erected in 1854 by the Academy of Sciences of Berlin and St. Petersburg”.

The peninsula in the Bay of Middendorf on the shore of Khariton Laptev. Named in 1900 by E.V. Toll.