What is Matthew Henson famous for?
Matthew Henson was an African American explorer best known as the co-discoverer of the North Pole with Robert Edwin Peary in 1909.
What did Matthew Henson dream achieving?
But Henson was excited. In a few days, he hoped to achieve his dream of being one of the first people to set foot on the North Pole.
What are 3 important facts about Matthew Henson?
Matthew Henson may have been the first person to stand at the North Pole. He reached the Pole as a member of an expedition to the Arctic led by the explorer Robert E. Peary in 1909. Matthew Alexander Henson was born in Maryland on August 8, 1866.
What impact did Matthew Henson have on world?
It was one year after emancipation and the end of the Civil War. An African-American of the first generation to roam the world after the abolition of slavery, Henson led a singular life of exploration and discovery that would usher in the modern era of adventure that continues now through the 21st century.
Who discovered South Pole?
Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, was one of the greatest figures in the field of polar exploration. He was the first explorer to transit the Northwest Passage (1903–05), the first to reach the South Pole (1911), and the first to fly over the North Pole in an airship (1926).
Who Discovered North Pole?
Robert Peary
The conquest of the North Pole was for many years credited to US Navy engineer Robert Peary, who claimed to have reached the Pole on 6 April 1909, accompanied by Matthew Henson and four Inuit men, Ootah, Seeglo, Egingwah, and Ooqueah. However, Peary’s claim remains highly disputed and controversial.
What contributions did Matthew Henson make that made him so valuable to Commander Peary?
At the time, Peary was working on the Nicaragua Canal. Their first Arctic expedition together was in 1891–92. Henson served as a navigator and craftsman, and was known as Peary’s “first man”….
| Matthew Henson | |
|---|---|
| Known for | Arctic explorer, claimed as the first to reach the geographic North Pole |
Why is Matthew Henson a hero?
Explain to students that in 1908, Matthew Henson joined Commander Robert E. Peary’s expedition. Their goal was to be the first people to reach the North Pole successfully. Henson demonstrated great courage during his Arctic exploration and in his daily life as an African American.
What was Matthew Henson education?
Harvard University
Matthew Henson/Education
During those years Henson attended Harvard University and earned a master’s degree. Recognition finally came in 1937, when he was elected to the International Explorers Club in New York, and in 1944, when he received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Who first set foot on Antarctica?
John Davis
Americans weren’t far behind: John Davis, a sealer and explorer, was the first person to step foot on Antarctic land in 1821. The race to find Antarctica sparked competition to locate the South Pole—and stoked another rivalry. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen found it on December 14, 1911.
Who explored Antarctica?
As the leader of two major expeditions to Antarctica, Robert Falcon Scott is credited with discovering that Antarctica is a continent. He reached the South Pole on Jan 17, 1912, a month after Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen did.