The Russians first encountered the population of the Pacific islands in 1804 during the first circumnavigation expedition. The sloops "Nadezhda" and "Neva" did not stay long on the islands: they repaired their ships, replenished supplies, and continued their journey. In late January 1815, the Russian ship "Bering" was shipwrecked off the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The local ruler, Kaumualii, seized the ship and the valuable cargo on board. At that point, the Russian-American Company, which represented Russia's interests in the Pacific, managed Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, got involved. Despite its name, the company did not have any American citizens. Under the orders of the head of the company and simultaneously the governor of Russian America, Alexander Baranov, his employee, Baron Egor Sheffer, arrived in Hawaii. He was supported in negotiations by several warships. Kaumualii immediately backed down, returned the cargo, allowed Sheffer to settle on his territory, and requested to be under the protection of the Russian tsar. In 1816-1817, the Russians built the stone Elizabeth Fortress and two earthen fortifications on the island of Kauai. The Americans and the British were not at all pleased with the presence of Russians on the Hawaiian Islands. They pushed them out diplomatically and economically and even incited the locals against the Russian colony. This led to an armed clash between the Russian garrison and the Hawaiians. When St. Petersburg declared that it did not wish to get involved in Sheffer's "adventure" and to spoil relations with the Americans, the latter greatly intensified their pressure. By 1817, the Russians had completely left Hawaii, and shortly thereafter, the archipelago came under full control of the United States.