Robert Peary

Peary in c. 1910

Robert Edwin Peary, Sr. (May 6, 1856 – February 20, 1920) was an American explorer who claimed to have led the first expedition, on April 6, 1909, to reach the geographic North Pole. Peary's claim was widely credited for most of the 20th century, rather than the competing claim by Frederick Cook who said he got there a year earlier.

Peary was born on May 6, 1856 in Cresson, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Portland, Maine. Peary studied at Bowdoin College. He was married to Josephine Diebitsch from 1888 until his death in 1920. They had two children. Peary died on February 20, 1920 in Washington, D.C. from an illness, aged 63.

Robert Peary Media

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  Matthew Henson, Peary's assistant, in 1910

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  Peary in civilian clothing

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  Peary was one of the first Arctic explorers to study Inuit survival techniques.

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  Peary used abandoned Fort Conger on Ellesmere Island during his 1898–1902 expedition

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  Roosevelt in the Hudson–Fulton parade in 1909

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  The party at what was assumed to be the North Pole

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  Amundsen, Shackleton, and Peary, in January 1913

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  Edwin Denby and Peary's daughter at grave, Arlington National Cemetery, April 6, 1922

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  Josephine Diebitsch in 1892

Other websites

• The Race to the North Pole, historical periodicals at the Library of Congress
• "Peary Discovers the North Pole After Eight Trials in 23 Years", New York Times, April 6, 1909
• "A Clash of Polar Frauds and Those Who Believe", New York Times, September 7, 2009
• Works by Robert E. Peary at Project Gutenberg
• Audiobook "The North Pole"
• Peary at Findagrave