The presented book is the only fundamental work on the history of the Russian-American company. Starting with the discovery of Alaska, the reader will go all the way to the development of Russian settlements in the northern lands of the Pacific Ocean. What prompted the Russians to conquer the American north? What contribution did the company make to the history of significant geographical discoveries and travel around the world? Can Russia be called a colonial empire? And finally, what prompted the Russian government to sell Alaska? Chronologically, the work covers the time from the mid-18th to the 60s of the 19th century. It is based on rare archival materials. The book is designed for a wide range of readers interested in the past of our country.