Tranze Nikolai Aleksandrovich
(06.02.1886–27.12.1961)

Russian sailor, arctic explorer.
Born in Vladivostok in the family of a naval officer. In 1899 Transe entered the Naval Cadet Corps, which he graduated in six years. He began his service in the Baltic Fleet, in 1906 he was transferred to the Siberian navy crew for a short time, then returned to the Baltic. In 1909, after graduating from the Mine Officer Class, he was promoted to lieutenant. Until 1911, sailed as a mine officer on the ships of the Baltic Fleet.
In 1912, Tranze was transferred to the Siberian Flotilla and was soon appointed a mine officer and watch supervisor on an icebreaking steamer "Taimyr" of a hydrographic expedition of the Arctic Ocean. As part of the Transe expedition, he participated in the navigation of 1912, as a result of which hydrographic surveys of the Bear Islands, the southern and western shores of the Lyakhov Islands, and the coast of the Buor-Khaya Bay area were made. After a break in 1913, when he served as a mine officer on the destroyer "Grozny", Tranze was already on the "Vaygach" icebreaker in navigation years 1914–1915 made through navigation by the Northern Sea Route from Vladivostok to Arkhangelsk. His main scientific task was to conduct detailed photography. "For the work suffered by the expedition," Tranze was awarded the Order of St. Anna of 3 degrees and, like all participants, a special badge. After the end of the expedition, Tranze fought, participated in the Baltic Fleet's Ice Campaign, had military awards, and in 1918 was dismissed from service on the basis of the Council of People's Commissars. Not recognizing the revolution, he emigrated to Sweden, moved to Norway, worked in the coal mines of Svalbard. In 1923, he managed to move to the United States, where for five years he worked as an expert on the Arctic at the American Geographical Society, and participated in the preparation of a trans-Arctic flight by R. Bird. Superbly made photographs of the expedition, which Tranze was able to ship to America, caused a sensation and immediately made him a rich man. Transe published a separate photo album, and then wrote a book on the hydrographic expedition of the Arctic Ocean.
During 1928–1934 He was president and chief engineer of a large American firm. After World War II, Transse took the post of chief expert on Eastern Central Intelligence Affairs (CIA) in Washington.
In 1956 he retired. President D. Eisenhower awarded him the highest distinction - the gold medal "For Merit".
He died in Sumin, New Jersey, where he had his own land and a house built with his own hands. According to the testament, he was cremated, and the ashes were scattered over the estate.
Islands off the southern coast of the island Bolshevik of the archipelago Severnaya Zemlya. Opened and named in 1914 by hydrographic expedition of the Arctic Ocean.