" YOU can help make a difference, get involved... "
PCO Press Room
Sponsors
Past Events
COP15
Link to PCO
Robert Edwin Peary
last update: Sep 30, 2008 02:08 PM
6th May, 1856 in Cresson, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania - 20th February, 1920 in Washington, D.C.
Interesting Trivia:
-
Peary was known for his unpleasant, domineering character, cruel sense of humor
-
He had a lisp which was only evident when he was angry
-
He was a excellent horseman, a skillful boxer and fencer and a good shot
-
Had at least 2 children out of wedlock with Inuit women
-
He lost 8 toes during his expeditions
-
Peary got honored by the American Geographical Society and Royal Geographical Society of London
-
Several ships, a Museum and a College were named after him
-
Wrote books such as Northward over the Great Ice (1898) and The North Pole (1910)
-
Married to Josephine Diebitsch Peary, two children by her
His Story:
American explorer, famous for claiming to have been the first person to reach the geographic North Pole on 6th April 1909. Although he was a controversial man (claiming various discoveries which were later universally rejected), he also achieved some genuine and remarkable feats, for instance, his discovery of Cape Jesup at the north tip of Greenland, the northernmost land on earth in 1900 was one of them.
As a youth, he dreamed of fame and his “greed” for fame attracted much criticism and controversy when he made claims to his achievements. He was quoted: “I feel myself overmastered by a resistless desire to do something. I do not wish to live and die without accomplishing anything or without being known beyond a narrow circle of friends.”
In 1885, after reading an article on the Inland Ice of Greenland, he believed he found his destiny – the Arctic. Greenland was his first step towards greater things, namely the North Pole.
Peary made several expeditions to the Arctic, especially Greenland in 1886 and again in 1891. He used dog sleds on both ocassions. In the 1890s, he returned to Greenland again on three separate expeditions. His wife, Josephine Diebitsch Peary, accompanied him on several of his expeditions.
He became an expert in Inuit survival techniques which helped him tremendously. As he was wearing fur clothing instead of his own gear, he was perfectly dressed for the extreme colds. He built igloos instead of sleeping in tents and sleeping bags. His support team existed of Inuits that would hunt and drive the dog sledges for him. He called this his “Peary system”.
More expeditions followed, there was a 1905-06 expedition but, due to all kinds of circumstances like being separated from his team and extreme weather conditions, Peary did not make it further north than 86°30' latitude although he claimed to have set the Farthest North world record at 87°06'. His next (and final) expedition was in 1908-1909. He and 23 other members on his team took the ship Roosevelt and departed from Ellesmere. His remaining support party turned back at a latitude of 87°45' north. Ultimately, only Peary and 4 other men (amongst them Matthew Henson) attempted the final stage of the journey towards the North Pole. Again, his actual reaching of the North Pole is being questioned many times since his claim. A famous excerpt from his diary (which was written up after he returned !) is the following: 7th April 1909 - "The Pole at last!!! The prize of 3 centuries, my dream and ambition for 23 years. Mine at last. I cannot bring myself to realise it..."
After his final expedition, Peary received a Rear Admiral’s pension and retired to the coast of Main. Numerous honors were given to him by scientific societies of Europe and America for his Arctic explorations and discoveries.
He died in 1920 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
