Richard Wyche

Richard Wyche (pronounced Whyche) (1554–1621) was a London shipowner, explorer, and merchant. Origins Richard Wyche was born in 1554 in Davenham, Cheshire. He was the son of Richard Wyche (1525-1594) and Margaret Haughton. He was descended from a former Lord Mayor of London in the fifteenth century, Henry Wyche. Career as an adventurer He was on the first Committee of Directors of the English East India Company, assisted in the formation of the North West Company in 1612, and was among the adventurers of the Muscovy Company. Wiche Islands or Wiche's Land (discovered and named in 1617, and now erroneously called Kong Karls Land), Wichebukta (on the east coast of Spitsbergen), Wichefjellet (also on the Spitsbergen’s east coast), and Wiche Sound (named and discovered in 1614 and now called Liefdefjorden and Woodfjorden) were all named after him.