(AURN News) — On April 6, 1909, Matthew Henson became the first African American to reach the North Pole, alongside explorer Robert Peary.
Originally hired as a valet, Henson proved indispensable, mastering Arctic travel, navigation and survival in brutal icy conditions.
Over years of dangerous expeditions, he endured hardships that caused others to turn back or die.
After multiple attempts, Henson, Peary, four Inuit guides and their dog teams finally reached the North Pole.
While Peary received widespread acclaim, Henson’s achievements were largely ignored, and he later worked as a clerk in a New York customs house.
He documented the journey in his memoir and decades later received recognition from The Explorers Club and the U.S. Navy before his death at age 88 in 1955.
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The post On This Day: Matthew Henson Reaches the North Pole — Recognition Comes Decades Later appeared first on American Urban Radio Networks.
