Born: 1864, Balsfjord, Norwayr Died: 1914, on board Fram off the coast of Uruguay
By the time he was engaged as ice pilot on Roald Amundsen’s Fram expedition, Beck already had many years’ experience sailing in Arctic waters. The son of a captain and shipowner had joined a variety of hunting vessels in the seas north of Norway since the age of seventeen, initially on his brother’s ship, and later as captain on his own ship and several expedition vessels headed for Svalbard. When it was reported in spring 1909 that Beck would join Amundsen, the newspapers described him as “an uncommonly solid man of 44 years, calm of temper, smart, a pure sailor’s sort”📜, and “a giant, steady and solid as a rock”📜.
When the crew of Fram were told in Madeira of the expedition’s changed plans, and that they were actually on their way to Antarctica, Beck voiced his amusement at the deception: “That I could be such an ass to not think of it before. It was basically so damned simple. Here we have all these dogs, the fine “observation house” [the overwintering hut Framheim], with its big kitchen range and lovely waxed cloth on the table, and all the rest. Any fool might have seen where this was going.”📜
In addition to his knowledge of the sea and ice, Beck also impressed with his violin playing.
November 19, 1910, on the voyage to Antarctica. Beck played the dance music and Martin Rønne found himself a suitable partner. Roald Amundsen captured the scene with his camera. Photo: Follo museum, MiA.
As a member of the sea party, Beck took part in the oceanographical cruise in the South Atlantic, after which Fram returned to Antarctica to pick up Amundsen and the rest of the land party from the Bay of Whales. The expedition then went to Hobart, Tasmania, where Amundsen gave everyone on board a free choice to leave or to continue with Fram on the next leg of the expedition. At the first count, only Beck said he was willing to continue, but several others later followed his lead.
From Hobart, Fram sailed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, arriving on May 23, 1912. While the ship was repaired and reprovisioned and the expedition’s financial problems addressed, the crew returned to Norway. Beck was back in Buenos Aires to rejoin Fram in May 1913. The crew then sailed north to Colón, Panama, where they waited for two months in the hope of being the first to pass through the Panama Canal. When the canal’s opening continued to be delayed, the decision was made to sail Fram south around Cape Horn instead. In March 1914, Beck fell ill and complained of double vision. He died aboard Fram on March 18 and was buried at sea off the coast of Uruguay.
The newspapers reported encephalitis as the cause of death. Back in Tromsø, Beck left a wife and six children.
The crew gather round Beck’s casket, draped in the Norwegian flag, before he is buried at sea. Photo: Follo museum, MiA.
When news of Beck’s death reached Tromsø, flags were flown at half mast on official and private buildings. The newspapers wrote, “It is so hard to understand that Andreas Beck is dead, this stout, strong, lively man who was from his earliest years has struggled with the darkness of the polar night, the might of the polar ice, and the storms of both the Arctic and Antarctic, and always returned unscathed.”📜
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage, 1903-06. A tinted photograph of him hangs in Amundsen’s home.
The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog together with Amundsen in 1922 where they lived until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”.
Betty was one of the key women in Amundsen’s life. She was the nanny when he grew up, and when Amundsen moved to Svartskog, she joined him and moved into the gatehouse, which became “Betty’s house”.
Eivind Astrup became one of the world’s most experienced polar explorers of his time and a great role model for Roald Amundsen. He chose to end his life when only 24 years old.
Roald Amundsen had strong feelings for Kristine Elisabeth “Kiss” Bennett. She visited Uranienborg several times, but even though Amundsen transferred ownership of it to her, she never moved in.
The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog with Amundsen in 1922 and lived there until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”.
Sigrid Flood Castberg, often called “Sigg”, was one of the women Amundsen had a relationship with. But when Amundsen proposed, she was already married and wanted to wait, and when she was ready he wanted…
Håkon Hammer met Roald Amundsen in Seattle in 1921. He quickly became a collaborator and supporter, but was later named by Amundsen as one of the reasons for his personal bankruptcy.
Participated in the Maud expedition, but left the expedition in 1919, together with Peter Tessem. Both perished. What really happened to them is still unknown.
The Alaska Inupiaq called Elizabeth Magids “Queen of the Arctic”, Amundsen’s crew referred to her as “the mysterious lady”. Amundsen called her “Bess”. She went to live with Amundsen in Norway in 1928….
Participated as a research assistant on the Maud expedition, and as a meteorologist on the Norge expedition. Died on Umberto Nobile’s airship expedition in 1928.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of him decorates a window in Amundsen’s home.
Nobile was the airship engineer whom Amundsen criticized after the expedition in 1926. During the search for his wrecked expedition in 1928, Roald Amundsen disappeared.
Joined the Maud expedition after visiting the ship in Khabarovsk. Also participated in the Norge expedition, but was left out from the actual voyage across the Arctic Ocean.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of her hangs in Amundsen’s home.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of him decorates a door in Amundsen’s home.