In 1611, the English Muscovy Company began Arctic whaling expeditions to Spitsbergen, targeting bowhead whales for their valuable blubber and baleen. This initiative marked the beginning of commercial whaling in the Arctic, driven by the demand for whale oil in Europe. The expeditions not only contributed to the economy but also opened new frontiers for exploration and exploitation of natural resources in the region.

The English Muscovy Company's Arctic whaling ventures beginning in 1611 fueled adventure tales that inspired poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Their depictions of sublime northern seascapes and human endurance captured the spirit of exploration and the challenges of the natural world.