polar history library

The Polar History section contains information about the people that explored the furthest reaches of the globe. In this section, you can learn about some of the explorers that set out to find the ends of the Earth.

Featured Article: V. Stefansson

Stefansson, Vilhjalmur (1879–1962), a Canadian-born Arctic explorer and anthropologist. See more »

Articles 21-31 of 31

Robert F. Scott

Scott, Robert Falcon (1868–1912), a British naval officer and explorer. He commanded two expeditions to Antarctica, reaching the South Pole on the second journey.

Robert John McClure

McClure, Sir Robert John Le Mesurier (1807–1873), a British Arctic explorer.

Salomon A. Andree

Andrée, Salomon August (1854-1897), a Swedish explorer. On July 11, 1897, Andrée and two companions set out on the first flight to the North Pole, from Spitsbergen (Svalbard) in the well-equipped balloon Ornen (Eagle).

Sir Ernest Shackleton

Shackleton, Sir Ernest Henry (1874–1922), a British Antarctic explorer. During 1907–09, he led an expedition attempting to reach the South Pole.

Sir Hubert Wilkins

Wilkins, Sir (George) Hubert (1888–1958), an Australian explorer, flier, and scientist.

Sir James C. Ross

Ross, Sir James Clark (1800–1862), a British Arctic and Antarctic explorer. In 1839 Ross commanded an expedition searching for the South Pole.

Sir John Franklin

Franklin, Sir John (1786–1847), a British Arctic explorer. Franklin's third voyage in search of a northwest passage to Asia ended in disaster, and all 129 men on the trip died.

Sir William Edward Parry

Parry, Sir William Edward (1790–1855), an English Arctic explorer. Parry commanded three expeditions to Canada in search of a northwest passage to the Pacific, 1819–25.

Umberto Nobile

Nobile Umberto (1885–1978), an Italian aviator, engineer, and explorer. He was a pioneer in the development of lighter-than-air craft and one of the first men to fly over the North Pole.