Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a port city with a rich history. Over the centuries, it has welcomed many ships: sloops, galleys, brigs, as well as expeditions from various countries. However, one of them became truly iconic and memorable, the circumnavigation of James Cook. It all began like this...

On April 29, 1779, a battered squadron of English ships appeared on the horizon near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The locals initially took them for merchants whose vessels had suffered from storms. The sailors from the Foggy Albion were equally surprised by the vastness before them. Lieutenant James King recalled: "The whole country is covered with ice, and it is hard to imagine a more dismal picture. We shuddered at the thought of being forced to winter here." Despite this, the English were met warmly and hospitably. The head of Kamchatka, Premier Major Bem, upon learning of the sailors' lack of provisions, ordered 20 heads of cattle and 400 poods of various supplies to be sent to them.

During the meetings, it became clear that the commander of the expedition, James Cook, had died at the hands of natives in the Hawaiian Islands. The new commander, Charles Clerk, asked Bem to preserve the diaries of the late Cook, his own notes, reports, maps, and other materials of the expedition, so that in the event of the squadron's demise, this valuable data would not be lost. Later, the unique documents were sent to Petersburg, while the English sailors remained in Kamchatka for another month and a half. The locals gifted them presents, and Premier Major Bem provided accurate maps so that the foreigners would not get lost. After that, thanking them for their hospitality, they set off on their journey.

Unfortunately, Charles Clerk never returned home. He died of tuberculosis, and his body was sent to the nearest city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. In the early 19th century, at the suggestion of Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin, the burial was moved to the main street of the city, now known as Lenin Street.