author
Matthew Alexander Henson
1866–1955
An Arctic explorer of remarkable grit, this pioneering adventurer joined Robert Peary on repeated expeditions and became best known for the 1908–1909 journey that claimed to reach the North Pole. His skill, endurance, and deep knowledge of Arctic travel made him essential to some of the era’s most famous polar journeys.
1 Audiobook
A Negro Explorer at the North Pole
by Matthew Alexander Henson
About the author
Born in Maryland in 1866, he lost his parents while still young and went to sea as a boy. Those early years gave him practical skills in navigation and travel that later helped shape his life as an explorer.
He is most closely associated with Robert Peary, whom he joined on multiple Arctic expeditions over more than two decades. Henson became known for his expertise with sledges and dogs, his ability to work closely with Inuit communities, and his toughness in some of the harshest conditions on earth. He was part of the 1908–1909 expedition that claimed to have reached the geographic North Pole.
For many years, his achievements did not receive the recognition they deserved. Later in life and after his death in 1955, his contributions were more widely honored, and he is now remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of polar exploration.