Arvid Adolf Etholén, or Adolf Karlovich Etolin (; 9 January 1799 – 29 March 1876) was a naval officer, explorer, ethnographic collector and administrator in the Russian Empire who was employed by the Russian-American Company from July 1818. He was a Swedish-speaking Finn, born in Helsinki in Finland, which was part of Sweden at the time of his birth, but was ceded to Russia in 1809. Etholén first reached Novoarkhangelsk (present-day Sitka, Alaska) in Russian America in the service of the Russian-American Company in 1818, rising to become Chief Manager of the Company between 1840 and 1845. ("Chief Manager" was a position sometimes referred to, though incorrectly, as "Governor"). As Chief Manager he played a significant role in establishing Finns in key positions in the development of the colony.

Etholén transferred from the Imperial Russian Navy to the service of the Russian-American Company in July 1818. He served in the Pacific from 1818 to 1825 as ship's master, and was part of a group that surveyed the Bering Sea from 1822 to 1824.

Etholén departed from Kronstadt in August 1817 and arrived at Sitka, the Company's main base, almost a year later.

The Etholén collection (Etholén Alaskassa) in the National Museum of Finland contains over 300 ethnographic items from the Pacific Islands, northwestern America and the Aleutian Islands, donated by Etholén to the University of Helsinki in 1847.

References

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  • 100 Faces from Finland – a Biographical Kaleidoscope: Etholén, Arvid Adolf
  • Etholén Alaska at Museovirasto