Matthews A Henson

1866 - 1955

Matthews A Henson was an African American explorer who survived 11 weeks locked in place by arctic ice, while also being the first African American explorer to reach the Arctic in 1909. Born to two freeborn sharecroppers Henson didn’t have to face the troubles of slavery but still faced injustice as a black man in the 1900’s. Henson had a dream to see the arctic, and followed his mentor Robert Edwin Peary (co-discoverer of the Arctic).

  • Harry Matthew, Sophomore

Vessel Ops