Chancellor, Richard (?-1556), an English explorer, opened up a trade route between England and Russia. In 1553, he was appointed pilot-general of an expedition under Sir Hugh Willoughby that sought a northeast passage to China. Three ships left the River Thames and sailed as far as the Lofoten Islands, where a storm separated them. Chancellor continued alone into the White Sea. He landed and went overland to Moscow. There, Ivan IV, the czar of Russia, welcomed him and gave him a letter authorizing English ships to trade with Russia. Upon Chancellor’s return to England in 1554, the Muscovy Company was formed. In 1555, Chancellor returned to Moscow. The following year, he drowned in a storm on his way home.
