Robert Peary

Hello! My name is Robert Peary, and I was an explorer. I was born a long time ago, on May 6th, 1856. When I was a boy, I loved reading adventure stories. I dreamed of visiting faraway places that no one had ever seen before. The place I dreamed of most was the coldest, iciest, and most northern spot on the entire planet: the North Pole!

When I grew up, I joined the United States Navy. My job took me to amazing places, but my heart was still set on exploring the Arctic. In 1886, I took my very first trip to a giant, icy island called Greenland. It was so cold, but it was also very beautiful! There, I learned important skills for an explorer. I learned how to travel across the deep snow using sleds that were pulled by strong dogs. I also met the Inuit people who lived on the island. They were experts at surviving in the cold and taught me so much about how to live in a freezing place.

After many trips and a lot of practice, I felt ready for my biggest challenge. In 1908, my team and I sailed north on our ship, which was named the Roosevelt. My team included my trusted friend, Matthew Henson. It also included four brave Inuit guides named Ootah, Egigingwah, Seegloo, and Ooqueah. We traveled for months across the bumpy, frozen ocean. It was very hard work, but we all helped each other and never gave up. Finally, on April 6th, 1909, we made it! We stood together at what we believed was the very top of the world—the North Pole!

Returning home was a great celebration. I spent the rest of my life sharing stories of my adventures in the chilly, beautiful Arctic. I lived a full and exciting life and was 63 years old when I passed away. Today, people remember me for my determination and for encouraging others to explore the unknown. I hope my story shows you that with a big dream and a lot of hard work, you can go anywhere you can imagine.