Matthew Henson was (with Robert Peary) the first man to reach the North Pole . This was an amazing accomplishment for Henson not only to be the first man but also to be the first African-American. Henson did not receive the recognition he deserved until much later in life. Matthew and Peary reached the pole in 1909.
What are 3 important facts about Matthew Henson?
Matthew Henson may have been the first person to stand at the North Pole . He reached the Pole as a member of an expedition to the Arctic led by the explorer Robert E. Peary in 1909. Matthew Alexander Henson was born in Maryland on August 8, 1866.
Who is Matthew Henson and why is he famous?
Matthew Henson was an African American explorer best known as the co-discoverer of the North Pole with Robert Edwin Peary in 1909.
How is Matthew Henson a hero?
Explain to students that in 1908, Matthew Henson joined Commander Robert E. Peary’s expedition. Their goal was to be the first people to reach the North Pole successfully. Henson demonstrated great courage during his Arctic exploration and in his daily life as an African American.
What is an interesting fact about Matthew Henson?
Matthew Henson was a brave explorer who journeyed all over the world . He spent many years and several expeditions trying to reach the North Pole with Robert Peary. After many years of trying, the pair finally reached it in 1909. Henson is thought to be the first man to actually reach the North Pole.
Did Matthew Henson get any awards?
In 1944 Henson was awarded the Peary Polar Expedition Medal, and he was received at the White House by Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. In 1988 he and his wife were re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2000 Henson was posthumously awarded the Hubbard Medal by the National Geographic Society.
Why is Matthew Henson so important?
Matthew Henson was an African American explorer best known as the co-discoverer of the North Pole with Robert Edwin Peary in 1909.
How did Matthew Henson get to the North Pole?
In 1906 with the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, Peary and Henson managed to get within 174 miles of the North Pole by ship using a state-of-the-art ice breaker . On the three-masted steam-powered schooner called the Roosevelt, Peary and Henson made it closer to the pole than on any expedition to date.
Did Matthew Henson attend college?
After returning from the North Pole, Henson could not get a good job. Four years later President William Howard Taft assigned him the title of clerk in the New York Customs House, a post he held for 23 years. During those years Henson attended Harvard University and earned a master’s degree.
Why was Henson the front man in the field?
Henson was the front man in the field. With his skills as a carpenter and craftsman, Henson personally built and maintained all of the sledges used on their expeditions . He was fluent in the Inuit language and established a rapport with the native people of the region.
What did Henson face growing up in Washington DC?
But Henson probably didn’t hear much about the Arctic while growing up in Washington, D.C. By the time Henson was 13, his parents had both died. As a Black American, he faced terrible racism . ... Henson returned to Washington, D.C., at age 18.
When did Matthew Henson become a cabin boy?
Matthew Henson was born to Black sharecroppers a year after the Civil War ended. At age 13 , he became a cabin boy on a frigate to China.
Does ASAP Rocky have a stylist?
Matthew Henson is a New York based stylist and consultant. His editorial work has appeared in publications such as WSJ Magazine, Esquire, Time, and GQ and he was previously the fashion editor for Complex Magazine. Since 2012 he has been the stylist for ASAP Rocky and is a member of ASAP Rocky’s creative agency, AWGE.
