Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891–1892

The Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891–1892 was where Robert Edwin Peary, Sr. set out to determine if Greenland was an island, or was a peninsula of the North Pole.[1]

Eivind Astrup's map of the route

History

Peary sailed from Brooklyn, New York on June 6, 1891 aboard the SS Kite.[1] Aboard was Josephine Diebitsch Peary, making her the first female on an arctic expedition.[1]

An expedition to find Peary was organized by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences in 1892.[1]

Crew

His crew consisted of the following:[2][3]

• Dr. Frederick Albert Cook, surgeon and ethnologist
• John M. Verhoeff, mineralogist and meteorologist
• Langdon Gibson, ornithologist
• Matthew Alexander Henson, Eivind Astrup
• Josephine Diebitsch Peary, who was Peary's wife
• He was accompanied by Professors Benjamin Sharp and J. F. Holt, both zoologists from the academy.
• William E. Hughes, ornithologist
• Dr. Robert N. Keely, Jr., surgeon
• Levi Walter Mengel, entomologist
• Alexander C. Kenealy, correspondent of the New York Herald
• Frazer Ashhurst and W. H. Burk

Relief expedition:

• Angelo Heilprin, curator of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences,
• Henry G. Bryant
• Jackson M. Mills, surgeon

References

1. "Peary Relief Expedition. The Miranda Sails with the Party Bound for Greenland". New York Times. June 28, 1892. Retrieved 2011-11-01. The Peary relief expedition, which was organized by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences to search for the Greenland exploring, party, yesterday sailed for St. John's, N.F., on board the Red Cross steamship Miranda. The party is in charge of Prof. Angelo Heilprin, with Henry G. Bryant as second in command.
2. "Peary Greenland Expeditions, 1891-1892". Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. Retrieved 2011-11-01. Dr. Frederick Cook, surgeon and ethnologist, John M. Verhoeff, mineralogist and meteorologist, Langdon Gibson, ornithologist, M. Henson, Eivind Astrup and Mrs. Peary. Angelo Heilprin, curator of the Academy, the second in command, was accompanied by Professors Benjamin Sharp and J. F. Holt, both zoologists, William E. Hughes, ornithologist, Dr. Robert N. Keely, Jr., surgeon, Levi W. Mengel, entomologist, Alexander C. Kenealy, correspondent of the New York Herald, Frazer Ashhurst and W. H. Burk
3. William J. Mills (2003). Exploring polar frontiers: a historical encyclopedia. ISBN 9781576074220. ... (ski expert), Langdon Gibson (ornithologist and hunter), John M. Verhoeff (mineralogist and meteorologist),and Peary's assistant, Matthew Alexander Henson. ...