Born into a family of shipowners and sea captains, Roald Amundsen was destined for exploration. He was born on July 16, 1872, to Jens Amundsen and Hanna Sahlqvist in the town of Borge, Norway, as the fourth and youngest son in the family. His father owned a shipping business, and the people around him—friends and family alike—were all connected to the sea. However, Roald’s mother longed for him to pursue a different path, hoping he would become a doctor to escape the hardships associated with the family business.  As a dutiful son, Roald initially followed his mother’s wishes and pursued a career in medicine. However, his fascination with adventure and exploration never waned. It was only after his mother passed away when he was just 21 years old that he decided to abandon medical school in pursuit of the adventurous life that had always called to him.

In 1897, at the age of 24, Roald Amundsen joined the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, marking his first official exploration adventure. This ship expedition became the first to reach Antarctica, and due to the freezing temperatures that trapped the vessel, it was also the first to spend a winter there. In 1903, Amundsen became the first person to navigate Canada’s Northwest Passage, leading his own crew on the journey. In 1918, he attempted to traverse the Arctic Ocean in his ship, the Maud, but was ultimately unsuccessful. However, this expedition provided valuable scientific research for future explorers. Amundsen still became the first person to explore the North Pole, albeit by air, in a plane called the Norge, in 1926. 

Roald Amundsen led a life filled with adventure and is considered a key figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. After achieving many of his personal goals, he looked forward to retiring from the chaotic life of an explorer. Unfortunately, his life came to a tragic end when he died in a plane crash over the Arctic Ocean while attempting to help locate a friend whose plane had gone down. Although his body was never recovered, the legacy of Roald Amundsen and his Arctic adventures continues to live on.