MATTHEW HENSON

A MAN OF DETERMINATION, CURIOSITY AND PERSEVERANCE

The North Pole is not an easy place to get to, even today, but a century ago it was an especially challenging adventure. On April 6, 1909, Matthew Henson and Robert Peary, along with four Inuit men became the first people in history to reach the North Pole. The Inuits

In the spring of 1909, 49 Inuits accompanied Peary and Henson to the shores of the Arctic Ocean — 22 men, 17 women and 10 children.* Just six men made the last leg of the final journey to the North Pole: Peary, Henson and the four Inuits Oatah, Egingwah, Seegloo and Ookeah.

* It should be noted that Henson and Peary have been criticized for some of their actions and treatment of the Inuit.

About Matthew Henson

Matthew Henson (1866-1955) joined American explorer

Robert Peary on several Arctic expeditions, making him the first African American to explore Greenland. Henson was fluent in Inuit languages, could build and repair sleds and learned to train sled dogs with knowledge gained from Indigenous people. He was essential to the success of the North Pole expeditions.

The expeditions

Henson and Peary shared several exploratory trips, which took place in the years 1891-92, 1893-95, 1896, 1897, 1898-1902, 1905-06 and 1908-09.

On the first expedition, Peary broke both of his legs. On the second, the team almost starved to death and were forced to eat their sled dogs. During the 1902 attempt, six Inuit team members died due to a lack of supplies. Three expeditions between 1894 and 1897 were sent to recover a huge meteorite called Ahnighito (wieghing 70,000 pounds) and two smaller meteorites.

1909, the final expedition

In 1909, the expedition team built an igloo base camp, where most of the team would wait while Peary, Henson and four Inuits undertook the final 475-mile trek to the pole. By some accounts, Henson and two Inuits arrived at the pole 45 minutes ahead of Peary, who had frostbitten feet and was traveling at a slower pace. However, as the leader of the expedition and as a white man, Peary received the majority of the credit. Polar bears were just one of many dangers faced while trying to reach the North Pole.

Race to the Pole

In the 1870s, the North Pole was as mysterious and unknowable as outer space. Ice fields kept ships from sailing there, and the cold was deadly. Over the years, several explorers from around the world had attempted and failed to reach the pole.

Robert Peary and Matthew Henson were determined to overcome all odds.

Were they first?

Some historians have theorized that Henson and Peary did not reach the pole and were short by about 60 miles (97 km).

In the end

Whether Henson actually reached the pole is probably not as important as the lessons he has taught us about overcoming obstacles such as racial inequality, poverty and a lack of formal education. He did this by channeling his courage, natural curiosity and persistence.

Henson received several honors during his lifetime, and others were given after his death in 1955.

Henson became a published author in 1912 with his book, “A Negro Explorer at the North Pole.” He was accepted as a member of the Explorers Club and received honorary degrees from Howard University and Morgan College. In 1913, President Taft gave Henson a job in the U.S. Customs House in New York, a position he held until his retirement in 1936. In 1944, Henson was awarded a Congressional medal.

In 1988, Henson’s remains were moved from New York City to Arlington National Cemetery.