In 1891, a ship carried a young surgeon named Frederick Cook to Greenland with a Navy engineer named Robert Peary. Early in the trip, Peary broke his leg. Cook set the bone and saved Peary's career. The two men were allies then. Both wanted the same thing, the geographic North Pole. It was the Holy Grail of the age, a point in the middle of a frozen, shifting ocean with no land in sight. Peary would lead eight Arctic expeditions over 23 years chasing it. In 1899 he lost most of his toes to frostbite and kept going. Cook, meanwhile, had won fame for his medical work on a Belgian expedition to Antarctica in 1897. By 1908 the friends had become bitter rivals, and each was preparing a final attempt. Who would reach the Pole first, and could anyone prove it?
Peary vs Cook: Who Reached the North Pole?
Peary and Cook each claimed the North Pole in 1909, and a 1988 review found Peary likely missed it by 30 to 60 miles.
Old Allies, One Prize
Frequently Asked Questions
Who actually reached the North Pole first?
Nobody knows for certain who reached it first. Cook's claim collapsed after the University of Copenhagen ruled his data did not prove it, and a 1988 review found Peary probably missed the Pole. The first verified arrival was the airship Norge in 1926.
Why did people stop believing Frederick Cook?
His climbing companion Edward Barrill swore in an affidavit that they never reached the top of Mount McKinley. The University of Copenhagen then ruled in December 1909 that his North Pole records did not prove he got there. His described Bradley Land was also never seen by later explorers.
Why do experts doubt Peary reached the Pole?
Wally Herbert found that Peary's return speed of about 45 miles a day was physically impossible over pack ice. Peary's diary also had blank pages for the days he claimed to be at the Pole. Herbert concluded he probably missed it by 30 to 60 miles.
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