Roald Amundsen
Who was Roald Amundsen?
Norwegian explorer; first person to reach the South Pole (1872–1928)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Roald Amundsen (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen, born on 16 July 1872 in Borge, Østfold, Norway, had a strong interest in polar exploration from an early age. His polar career really began when he served as first mate on Adrien de Gerlache's Belgian Antarctic Expedition from 1897 to 1899, where he got valuable experience in the challenging conditions of the Antarctic. This early experience shaped the careful and disciplined planning that led to his later successes.
From 1903 to 1906, Amundsen led the first successful expedition through the Northwest Passage, navigating the tricky Arctic waters aboard the sloop Gjøa. This three-year journey made him a leading figure in polar exploration and earned him international recognition. His account of the journey, The North West Passage, shared his achievements with a wide audience and firmly established his reputation as a meticulous and determined explorer.
In 1910, Amundsen left Norway on the ship Fram, initially saying he was headed to the Arctic but instead aiming for Antarctica. His team set up a base camp at the Bay of Whales and placed a network of supply depots across the Ross Ice Shelf to prepare for their journey to the South Pole. On 14 December 1911, Amundsen and four companions reached the South Pole, arriving about five weeks before the British team led by Robert Falcon Scott. This was the result of precise planning, expert use of sled dogs, and thorough preparation.
Amundsen continued to explore the polar regions in the following years. In 1918, he tried to navigate the Northeast Passage aboard the ship Maud, hoping to cross the Arctic Ocean toward the North Pole, but this attempt was unsuccessful. He then focused on aerial exploration, and on 12 May 1926, he and fifteen others aboard the airship Norge became the first verified explorers to reach the North Pole, resolving the debate over who first achieved that feat.
Amundsen disappeared around 18 June 1928 while on a rescue mission in the Arctic, searching for survivors of the crashed airship Italia near Bear Island. His aircraft vanished, and despite extensive searches, his remains were never found. The search was called off in September 1928. He was 55 years old when he disappeared and had spent nearly thirty years increasing our knowledge of the polar regions.
Before Fame
Roald Amundsen was raised in a family of Norwegian shipowners and sailors, and from a young age, he was captivated by stories of Arctic exploration, especially those about Sir John Franklin's expeditions. Although his mother wanted him to become a doctor, he left school after her death to focus entirely on being an explorer and sailor. He earned his mate's certificate and joined voyages to improve his navigation and survival skills in icy conditions.
His key experience was as first mate on the Belgian Antarctic Expedition from 1897 to 1899, led by Adrien de Gerlache on the Belgica. The ship got stuck in Antarctic pack ice, and the crew had to endure the winter, ill-prepared for the harsh conditions. Amundsen paid close attention and learned about diet, equipment, and morale, lessons he applied carefully in his later expeditions. This journey marked his shift from a hopeful adventurer to a dedicated polar explorer.
Key Achievements
- Led the first expedition to successfully traverse the Northwest Passage by sea, completing the journey between 1903 and 1906
- Commanded the first party to reach the South Pole on 14 December 1911
- Became one of the first verified explorers to reach the North Pole, traveling aboard the airship Norge on 12 May 1926
- Authored The North West Passage, documenting his historic Arctic voyage for an international readership
- Received numerous international honors including the Hubbard Medal, the Patron's Medal, and the Congressional Gold Medal
Did You Know?
- 01.Amundsen's South Pole party used 52 sled dogs at the start of their journey, and the plan deliberately included slaughtering weaker dogs along the route to feed both the men and the remaining dogs.
- 02.He spent two winters among the Netsilik Inuit people during the Northwest Passage expedition, learning cold-weather survival techniques including the use of animal skins for clothing rather than wool.
- 03.The airship Norge, which carried Amundsen over the North Pole in 1926, was an Italian-built craft piloted by Umberto Nobile, with whom Amundsen later had a bitter public dispute over credit for the achievement.
- 04.Amundsen held a master mariner's certificate and was also qualified as a naval officer in the Norwegian Navy reserve, combining formal maritime training with his reputation as an explorer.
- 05.He received the Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society in 1907 for his traverse of the Northwest Passage, and later received the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress for his polar achievements.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fridtjof Nansen Award of Excellence, Mathematics-Natural sciences class | 1907 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav | 1906 | — |
| Hubbard Medal | 1907 | — |
| Constantin Medal | — | — |
| Knight of the Order of Leopold | — | — |
| Vega Medal | 1913 | — |
| Alexander von Humboldt Medal | 1912 | — |
| Patron’s Medal | 1907 | — |
| Congressional Gold Medal | — | — |
| Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations | 1913 | — |
| Medal for Outstanding Civic Service | 1925 | — |
| Medal of Merit in Gold with Crown | — | — |
| Polar Medal | — | — |
| Charles P. Daly Medal | 1912 | — |
| Medalla Plus Ultra | 1928 | — |
| Medal for Aeronautical Valour | — | — |
| Livingstone Medal | — | — |
| South Pole Medal | 1912 | — |
| Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star | 1912 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph | 1907 | — |
| Knight of the Legion of Honour | — | — |
| Medal of Merit | — | — |