Roald Amundsen: Norwegian explorer; first person to reach the South Pole

He led the first expedition to reach the South Pole and the first that could prove it made it to the North Pole. Amundsen was also the first man known to travel the Northwest Passage.

Roald Amundsen
Born	Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (1872-07-16)16 July 1872 Borge, Østfold, Norway
Disappeared	18 June 1928 (aged 55) Barents Sea
Nationality	Norwegian
Occupation	Explorer
Known for	First to reach the South Pole First to navigate the Northwest Passage
Parents	Jens Amundsen Hanna Sahlqvist
Awards	Hubbard Medal (1907) Charles P. Daly Medal (1912) Vega Medal (1913)
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When Amundsen was young, he decided he would use his life to explore the wilderness. He was inspired by the lives of Fridtjof Nansen and John Franklin. While his mother was alive he did not go to sea, to keep a promise to her. After her death, he quit university to begin exploring the world at 21 years old.

In 1897, he went on the Belgian Antarctic Expedition as first mate. This was the first expedition to stay over winter at Antarctica, since their ship got stuck in the ice preventing them from leaving.

In 1903, Amundsen led the first expedition to make it through the Northwest Passage.

In October 1911, he began his expedition to Antarctica with four other men in attempt to be the first man to reach the South Pole. Robert Falcon Scott, an explorer from Britain, arrived in Antarctica with his own team only days after Amundsen. Both explorers raced to the South Pole, but Amundsen and his men used skis and dog sleds for transportation. This was more efficient. On 14 December 1911, Amundsen successfully became the first man to reach the South Pole.

In 1926, Amundsen and his men made it to the North Pole. Three other expeditions claimed to make it before then, but their claims have not been verified. Two of them have been considered fraud. This may make Amundsen and his men the first to reach the North Pole.

He disappeared in June 1928 while taking part in a rescue mission.

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  Roald Amundsen
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  Maud in June 1918
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  Captain Roald Amundsen at the wheel
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  Norwegian flag at the South Pole
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  Roald Amundsen in Svalbard (1925)

• List of people who disappeared mysteriously: 1910–1990