August, 1741
8/20: Danish explorer Vitus J. Bering and his crew were the first Europeans to reach Alaska.  This was Bering's second attempt  to reach Alaska from the Kamchatka peninsula, Russia.  The sea area between Siberia and Alaska was named after him.  Bering is one of Denmark's most famous navigators:  http://www.horsensmuseum.dk/bering/ber_en.htm
(source: The Learning Kingdom