Fridtjof Nansen (Oct. 10, 1861 - 1930) was a Norwegian explorer, scientist and peace activist.
In 1888 he was the first to cross the Greenland Ice Sheet. He went from east to west with five companions on ski.
From 1893 to 1896, Nansen led an expedition with the polar exploration ship Fram. The plan was to have the ship embedded in the pack ice and drift across the North Pole. The ship, however, remained stuck at 84°4′N and Nansen decided to make a dash for the Pole on ski. But the terrain was too rough and he aborted the attempt at 86°13′6″N - further north than any other recorded position at the time. The trip back was very troublesome and it took over a year before Nansen and his one companion were rescued. Later Fram emerged from the pack ice and Nansen and the crew were reunited.
Nansen’s goal with the expeditions was primarily scientific - he was a trained zoologist and neuro-anatomist. However, his book about the Fram expedition became a best-seller, made him a celebrity, and secured him financially.
Later in life Nansen used this platform to become a politician and a diplomat. His work within the framework of the League of Nations in repatriating prisoners of war from WWI earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. When Nansen died the Norwegians gave their national hero a state funeral.
Photo via Library of Congress, the Bain Collection