In the history of exploration, few names are as synonymous with grit and survival as Matthew Alexander Henson. Often cast in the shadow of Commander Robert Peary, Henson was far more than an assistant; he was the primary craftsman, linguist, and navigator who arguably became the first human to stand at the geographic North Pole.
Early Life: From Cabin Boy to World Traveler
Born in Nanjemoy, Maryland, on August 8, 1866—just one year after the Civil War ended—Henson was born into a world of both newfound freedom and systemic racism. Orphaned by age 11, he walked 40 miles to Washington, D.C., eventually finding his way to Baltimore where he signed on as a cabin boy aboard the merchant ship Katie Hines.
Under the mentorship of Captain Childs, Henson spent six years sailing to China, Japan, North Africa, and Russia. He didn’t just see the world; he mastered it. By the time he returned to D.C. at age 20, he was a skilled sailor, navigator, and carpenter—skills that would soon catch the eye of a young Navy lieutenant named Robert Peary.
The Partnership: "I Can't Get Along Without Him"
In 1887, Peary hired Henson as a valet for a surveying expedition to Nicaragua. However, Peary quickly realized Henson’s technical brilliance far exceeded his job title. Over the next two decades, the pair embarked on seven Arctic voyages.
While Peary was the public face, Henson was the "front man in the field." He was the only non-Inuit member of the team to master the Inuit language, dog-sled driving, and igloo construction. Peary himself once remarked:
"He was more of an Eskimo than some of them... I can't get along without him." — Robert Peary (Source:
) National Geographic
The 1909 Expedition: Reaching the Top of the World
On April 6, 1909, during their eighth attempt to reach the Pole, Henson was sent ahead as a scout. By his own account, and supported by later research, Henson overshot the mark and arrived at the Pole roughly 45 minutes before Peary.
Henson later described the moment of triumph in his memoir:
"The Commander gave the word, 'We will plant the stars and stripes—at the North Pole!' and it was done... I felt a savage joy and exultation." — Matthew Henson, A Negro Explorer at the North Pole (1912)
Achievement and Overlooked Legacy
Upon their return, the contrast in their reception was stark. Peary was promoted to Rear Admiral and showered with medals. Henson, due to the racial prejudices of the era, was largely ignored by the public and spent the next 30 years working as a clerk in the U.S. Customs House in New York City.
It took decades for the world to catch up to his greatness:
1937: He became the first African American made a life member of The Explorers Club.
1944: Congress awarded him the Peary Polar Expedition Medal.
1988: In a move to correct history, Henson and his wife were re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, near Peary’s monument.
2000: The National Geographic Society posthumously awarded him the Hubbard Medal, its highest honor.
A Lasting Impact
Matthew Henson’s legacy is one of "unassailable sense of belonging," as noted by
Sources:
The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson - National Geographic Matthew Henson: First to the Top of the World? - Oceanwide Expeditions
Check out this
This video provides a detailed look at the challenges Henson faced and his eventual journey to being honored at Arlington National Cemetery.
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