William H. (William Henry) Gilder

Born in Philadelphia in 1838, William Henry Gilder was an American soldier, journalist, explorer, and writer. Sources consistently describe him as a Civil War veteran who later built a career in journalism and expedition reporting, especially in connection with Arctic travel.

He became closely associated with the New York Herald and traveled as a correspondent on major northern expeditions. He is best known for Schwatka's Search: Sledging in the Arctic in Quest of the Franklin Records (1881), an account of the expedition led by Frederick Schwatka in search of traces of Sir John Franklin's lost voyage. He also wrote Ice-Pack and Tundra (1883), another book drawn from his experience in polar regions.

Gilder's surviving papers, held at Dartmouth, reflect the same mix of reporting and exploration found in his books: correspondence, a diary, manuscripts, and clippings tied to his work as a journalist and Arctic explorer. No suitable verified portrait image was confirmed from the sources I could check here, so none is included.