author
Matthew Alexander Henson
1866–1955
Best known for his Arctic expeditions with Robert E. Peary, he became one of the most important explorers in the story of the North Pole. His life joined endurance, seamanship, and hard-won recognition after years in which his achievements were overlooked.
1 Audiobook
A Negro Explorer at the North Pole
by Matthew Alexander Henson
About the author
Born in Maryland in 1866, Matthew Alexander Henson went to sea as a boy and learned navigation and practical skills that would shape the rest of his life. He later joined Robert E. Peary and took part in multiple Arctic expeditions, building a reputation for toughness, mechanical skill, and deep experience traveling in polar conditions.
Henson is most closely linked with the 1908–1909 expedition that claimed to have reached the geographic North Pole. Over time, many accounts have emphasized how central he was to the work of the expedition, from handling sledges and equipment to helping make the journey itself possible.
He published A Negro Explorer at the North Pole in 1912, offering his own account of the expedition and his career. Although full recognition came slowly, Henson was later honored more widely for his achievements and is now remembered as a pioneering American explorer whose story also reflects the barriers faced by Black adventurers in his era.