Baranov is short for Alexsander Andreevich Baranov. He is a Russian.  Baranov trained as a merchant in Siberia.  He was the administrator of Russian America's Fur Trading company.

On 1794, Baranov built his first vessel in the northwestern America at
Voskres-Senski on Kenai.  In 1794, Baranov established the Russian post known for today as Old Sitka. He was the governor of Russian America longer than any other governor.