Matthew Henson - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Matthew Alexander Henson (1866-1955) was an African American explorer, adventurer, and the first person to reach the geographic North Pole, though his achievements were long overshadowed by racial prejudice and historical misattribution. As Robert Peary's primary assistant on numerous Arctic expeditions, Henson's expertise in survival skills, dog-sledding, and Inuit languages proved instrumental in what would become one of exploration's most controversial achievements.
Born to sharecroppers in Maryland just after the Civil War, Henson's journey into Arctic exploration began as a cabin boy at age twelve, where he learned navigation and seamanship under Captain Hugh Gregory. This early maritime experience would later prove crucial when he met Lieutenant Robert Peary in 1887, beginning a partnership that would span two decades and eight Arctic expeditions. Their relationship, though marked by the racial dynamics of the era, was characterized by mutual dependence and respect, with Peary once noting that Henson was "more useful to me than any man living."
The culmination of Henson's explorations came on April 6, 1909, when he became the first person to reach the geographic North Pole, arriving approximately 45 minutes before Peary. However, this achievement remained largely unrecognized for decades, overshadowed by both racial prejudice and the contemporaneous claim of Frederick Cook, who contested Peary's discovery. Henson's expertise in Arctic survival, his fluency in Inuktitut, and his masterful dog-sledding skills were crucial to the expedition's success, yet his role was minimized in initial historical accounts.
Henson's legacy has undergone a dramatic reassessment in recent decades, with posthumous recognition including the reinterment of his remains at Arlington National Cemetery in 1988, alongside Peary's. His story has become a powerful symbol of overlooked African American achievement and resilience, inspiring numerous books, documentaries, and educational programs. Modern scholarship continues to uncover new aspects of Henson's contributions, raising intriguing questions about the intersection of race, exploration, and historical recognition in early 20th-century America. His life stands as a testament to the complex nature of discovery and the importance of reexamining historical narratives through contemporary lenses.