First Man To Reach The North Pole Was Actually The Uncle Of One Iconic Celebrity

Against the icy backdrop of the Arctic, a team of determined explorers make their way through the hostile terrain. After five weeks of struggle, mercifully, they reach their destination. They’ve just become the first men to ever set foot upon the North Pole. More than a century later, one of the group’s descendants would also find fame — but in an entirely different way.

Mission to the North Pole

In March 1909 Matthew Henson and Robert Peary set out to make history, on a mission to conquer the wildest reaches of the Arctic. But while their achievement would go down in history, it’s been marred by controversy ever since. What happened on the ice that drove a wedge between these once great friends? And did they really reach the North Pole?

A Hollywood icon

For years after the expedition, Peary received all the praise for its success — while Henson faded into obscurity. Now, steps have been taken to secure him his place in history. And today, his great-great-grand niece is an icon in Hollywood, thousands of miles from the tundra where her ancestor made his name.

Matthew Henson

Born to a family of freed slaves in Nanjemoy, Maryland, in 1866 Henson lost both of his parents at a young age. Left orphaned, he decided to pursue a life of adventure, becoming a cabin boy on the ship Katie Hines at just 12 years old. On board, he developed a close bond with the ship’s captain, gaining an education under his tutelage.

Washington, D.C.

During his time on the Katie Hines, Henson traveled extensively, visiting destinations as far afield as China and North Africa. But when Captain Childs passed away, he returned to land, working as a clerk in Washington, D.C. And it was there he encountered the man who would change the course of his life for good.

Connecting the Pacific and Atlantic

By then it was 1887, and the U.S. government was looking to secure a trade route through Central America, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Panama Canal was still some years away, and planners had proposed Nicaragua as the ideal location. So, naval officer Robert Peary was dispatched to lay the groundwork for the project.

Robert Peary

While preparing for his mission, Peary entered the store where Henson was working. And when he heard about the clerk’s seafaring background — and discovered his desire for adventure — he hired him to serve as an assistant on the Nicaragua trip. And together, the two men set off for the jungles of Central America.

Nicaragua

As it turned out, the pair made an excellent team. Having successfully survived two years in the wilds of Nicaragua, they formed a working partnership that would span the next two decades. But while their relationship had begun in the sweltering heat of the jungle, it was the cold expanse of the Arctic that would come to define them.

Greenland

On their early expeditions to the frozen north, Henson and Peary explored the island of Greenland. In fact, they became the first people to map the great ice cap in its entirety. And in the 1890s they shipped a number of meteorites from the Arctic to the United States, selling them to raise funds for future expeditions.

The North Pole

But Peary’s biggest dream was to make it to the North Pole, the most northerly point on planet Earth. And in 1906 he came within less than 200 miles of his goal, on board the custom-built ice breaker SS Roosevelt. But it would be another three years before the explorer, along with Henson, would realize their lofty ambitions.

The adventure begins

On July 6, 1908, Henson and Peary left New York with a crew of 20 others. Stopping in Greenland, they bolstered their ranks by taking on a number of Inuit people, before setting sail for Ellesmere Island off the Canadian coast. And there, they spent the winter sheltering close to Cape Sheridan, ready to reach the pole the following spring.

Technical skills

Over the course of their expeditions, Henson had proved himself a worthy companion time and time again. Although Peary was considered the brains behind the operation, his loyal assistant was the one with the technical skills. In fact, even the sledges used to pull their supplies across the ice were designed and built by his hand.

Mahri-Pahluk

It was in his dealings with the Inuit, though, that Henson was truly irreplaceable. Having learned the language, he ingratiated himself with the locals, who dubbed him Mahri-Pahluk, or Matthew the Kind One. And over time he mastered the art of dog sledding, eventually becoming as skilled as the natives at navigating the Arctic terrain.

"I have come to love these people"

“I have a steady job carpentering, also interpreting, barbering, tailoring, dog-training,” wrote Henson in A Negro Explorer at the North Pole, his memoir from 1912. “I have come to love these people… They are my friends and they regard me as theirs.” In fact, he became so close to the Inuit that he fathered a son with a local woman, as did Peary.

Henson’s descendants

Years later, some of Henson’s descendants still live in Greenland — although others have also spread out across the world. As it turns out, one of the explorer’s present-day relatives resides a little closer to home. And this person just so happens to be a Hollywood star who frequently graces the silver screen.

Right-hand man

Back in 1909, though, Henson had yet to secure his legacy. He was still mostly known as Peary’s right-hand man. But although he wasn’t the one calling the shots, he was indispensable on the pair’s Arctic mission. And when it was time to choose the six men who’d make the final push to the pole, his presence was guaranteed.

Reaching the pole

Having deposited caches of supplies along their intended route, Henson, Peary, and four Inuit men left their base camp on April 2, 1909. And for five days they traveled towards the pole, driving their dog sledges for as many as 14 hours without stopping. Then, on April 6, having traveled over 170 miles, they reached their destination.

The American flag

Using the position of the sun to map their location, Peary determined that the team had finally arrived at the North Pole. Unfurling an American flag, they hoisted it into the air and snapped a photograph to mark their achievement. Then, they turned around and began the long journey home.

Frederick Cook

Months later, Peary sent a message to The New York Times announcing his achievement. But he wasn’t the only man laying claim to the North Pole. The previous year, American explorer Frederick Cook had departed Greenland, following a route described by Norwegian Otto Sverdup at the turn of the century.

A counter claim

Like Peary, Cook was determined to become the first man to reach the North Pole. And according to him, he succeeded. In September 1909, just days before Peary’s announcement, he contacted the New York Herald with his own claim. In April of that year, he said, he’d completed his mission to the heart of the Arctic.

Controversy

In fact, it was these claims that prompted a panicked Peary to make his own announcement from a wireless station in Labrador. Now there were two explorers who each claimed to have reached the pole first. And it was initially Cook who swayed public opinion, arriving in New York to plenty of fanfare on September 21.

Smear campaign

Peary, though, had the establishment — and plenty of money — behind him. Having already prevented a friend of Cook’s from shipping the explorer’s instruments back to the U.S., he launched what amounted to a smear campaign against his rival. And before long, the tide had turned in favor of the more seasoned adventurer.

A matter of some debate

For many years, Peary was recognized as the man who discovered the North Pole, while Cook’s claims were dismissed as unproven. But in 1988 a study by the National Geographic Society cast doubts on the official version of events. And ever since, the question of who made it to the top of the world first has remained a matter of some debate.

Footprints in the snow

And even if we take Peary’s claims as gospel, the situation still isn’t as simple as it might appear. Because ever since the 1909 expedition, Henson has claimed his footprints — and not his employer’s — were the first to mark the pole. Apparently, he’d gone on ahead as the expedition approached its final goal.

Henson’s claim

At this stage, reports claim, Peary had been confined to a dog sled, physically unable to go further on foot. Speaking to the press at the time, Henson said, “I was in the lead that had overshot the mark by a couple of miles. We went back then and I could see that my footprints were the first at the spot.”

A friendship shattered

Tragically, Henson and Peary’s friendship would never be the same. Given the political climate of the time, it should perhaps come as no surprise that the wealthy, white explorer received most of the credit for the record-beating expedition. But over time, his assistant’s role in making history has come to be recognized as well.

Shared credit

Today, Henson is typically credited alongside Peary for discovering the North Pole, although doubts remain regarding the legitimacy of their claims. And his descendants — the children and grandchildren of Anauakaq — seem proud of their ancestor’s legacy. But what of the Hollywood star who can trace her roots back to one of history’s most unlikely Arctic explorers?

Taraji P. Henson

The star in question is American singer and actor Taraji P. Henson, who made her name starring in movies such as Hidden Figures and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. On the surface, her glitzy life of Oscar nominations and Hollywood parties might seem a world away from Henson’s grueling Arctic adventures. But the pair actually share a close connection.

"The brother of my great-great grandfather"

In an interview with the African American Literature Bookclub, Taraji was questioned about her relationship with the Arctic explorer. She responded, “He was the brother of my great-great grandfather. Matthew would send him letters about his travels while out on his expeditions.” Sadly, though, these historic messages have not survived into the modern day.

Lost correspondence

Taraji continued, “Somebody in the family had all this great correspondence until one day when their apartment was robbed and the letters were lost, probably thrown away like trash.” In other words, it’s possible a stash of unknown letters penned by the great polar explorer are hidden away somewhere, and might yet come to light.

Hope and love

Like those of her famous ancestor, Taraji’s roots stretch back to the Maryland village of Nanjemoy. But she was actually born some 40 miles north, over in the southeast corner of Washington, D.C. Taken from the Swahili language, her name means “hope,” while her middle name Penda translates to “love.”

Diverse heritage

Interestingly, Taraji’s connection to Henson isn’t the only notable thing about her heritage. According to a video uploaded to YouTube by the Africa Channel in 2012, she’s also descended from Cameroon’s Masa people through her mother’s line. But despite her diverse background, the actor and singer has always forged her own way in life.

A passion for acting

Initially, reports claim, Taraji planned to take an electrical engineering course at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. But soon, she realized acting was her passion, transferring onto a drama program at Howard University. And in order to fund her studies, she worked part-time as a singer and dancer on a cruise ship out of Washington, D.C.

Breaking into Hollywood

After starting out as a background performer, Taraji’s breakthrough role came in 2001 as Yvette in the coming-of-age movie Baby Boy. And from there, she went on to blaze a trail through Hollywood in much the same way that her great-great-grand uncle left his indelible mark on the North Pole.

Awards and nominations

Over the years, Taraji has won a number of accolades for her performances, including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors’ Guild Award. She was also the first woman of color to receive the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress, and has been nominated for an Academy Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Hidden Figures

Today, Taraji is probably best known for her portrayal of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson in the hit movie Hidden Figures, released in 2016. That same year, she was named by Time magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. And while her legacy might not involve conquering any polar terrain, it’s surely one of which Henson would’ve been proud.

Life after the North Pole

And what of the explorer himself? How did he adjust to life back in the United States — and did he and Peary ever make amends? According to reports, Henson enjoyed a relatively quiet existence after returning from the North Pole, taking a job at New York City’s custom house. In fact, it was a recommendation from the president himself that helped him to secure the position.

Explorers Club

Henson lived a life of relative obscurity until 1937, when he was made an honorary member of New York’s legendary Explorers Club. Then, a decade later, he received a duplicate of the silver medal given to Peary after the expedition. Finally, in 1954 he visited the White House, during which he was given a special commendation by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Arlington National Cemetery

Tragically, history doesn’t record whether or not the two men spoke again before Peary’s death in 1920. But eventually, the two were reunited in death. Although Henson was initially laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City, he was reinterred with honors at Arlington National Cemetery in 1988. Now, his grave sits close to that of his esteemed companion, their destinies linked together once more.

Survival skills

Speaking to the African American Literature Book Club, Taraji credited her ancestor’s indomitable spirit for getting her where she is today. She said, “I think I get my survival skills from him, and also my belief that nothing is out of reach, that I can achieve anything, if I apply myself. I never quit. I think that’s something I was born with from his genes.”