Matthew Henson

Matthew Henson

Matthew Henson was an African American explorer. He was also an associate of Robert Peary during various expeditions. One of his many expeditions took place in 1909 when they claimed to be the first to reach the Geographic North Pole. The Explorers Club invited Henson to join in 1937, 11 years later they reconsidered and made him the highest rank of honorary member. Mathew Henson was a great arctic explorer.

The thing he is most famous for is for being the first claimed person to reach the Geographic North Pole. He tried to get to the North Pole several times. Their 1902 expedition was disastrous. Six of their Eskimo helpers died and the food diminished. They ran into many problems with thin ice and melting ice that made travels hard. He didn't actually make it in 1902 and even with their new boat, Roosevelt, named after the president and were forced to try again in 1908. On the way back Peary spotted an island 120 miles off the coast of North America he dubbed “Crocker Island”. Matthew Henson is a famous arctic explorer.

Matthew Henson and four other reach the North Pole

He has been to many places. When he was twelve he walked from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland to get a job as a cabin boy on the ship Katie Hines. He also had an expedition in Greenland in 1891. He went on an expedition in 1887 to Nicaragua. He lived for some time in Harlem, New York. He has traveled to many places including his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

Matthew Henson

On August 8th, 1866 he was born. He had a Greenland expedition in 1891. Henson went on an expedition with Peary to Nicaragua in 1887. Matthew attempted to go to the Geographic North Pole in 1902. His last expedition was when he made it to the Geographic North Pole in 1909. Later he died at the age of 89 on March 9th, 1955.

Matthew Henson is famous for his 1902 expedition to the Geographic North Pole. As well as his 1909 expedition to the Geographic North Pole. He and Robert Peary are the first recorded people to reach the Geographic North Pole. They had many attempts. Those are just a few reasons Matthew Henson is my Black History Month Hero.