July 4, 1872- The Birth of Roald Amundsen

July 4

Copy of Amundsen Placing Norwegian Flag at North Pole

Roald Amundsen, a renowned Norwegian explorer, was born on July 4, 1872. He is celebrated for his polar explorations and is a prominent figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Amundsen was the first person to set foot on the South Pole, the first to navigate the Northwest Passage, and the first to cross the Arctic Basin by air. His explorations and lasting legacy continue to inspire people today.

Have you ever read a book that changed the whole course of your life? This is precisely what happened when Amundsen read Sir John Franklin’s narratives about Arctic expeditions. Amundsen was planning to study medicine, as this was his family’s preference. However, when he read Franklin’s tales, he was enraptured, and the thought of exploring became an obsession. He ended up leaving medicine when his mother died when he was 21, and embarked on a life at sea with eyes set on exploration.  He became the first person to successfully navigate the treacherous waters of the Northwest Passage in 1906. In 1911, he became the first person to set foot at the South Pole after numerous failed attempts by other explorers. And then, in 1926, he became the first explorer to reach the North Pole by air. 

In 1928, Roald Amundsen died while attempting to rescue a friend who had been involved in a plane crash during an expedition to the North Pole. Although his friend and eight other crew members were eventually located and rescued, Amundsen’s rescue aircraft also crashed, and the remains of the flight were never found.

Fun Facts about Roald Amundsen:

  • During one of his Arctic explorations, Amundsen attempted to tame a polar bear, but he ended up being attacked and nearly killed.
  • The famous children’s author, Roald Dahl, was named after Roald Amundsen. 
  • He spent two years living with the Netsilik Inuit to learn their culture and study their methods of survival in the polar regions. 
  • Amundsen dropped the Norwegian flag over the North Pole as he flew over it, making him a Norwegian hero.