Even though Roald Amundsen and Eivind Astrup were almost the same age, Astrup became one of Amundsen’s great role models. Sadly, Astrup’s life as a polar explorer was over before Amundsen’s had begun.
In 1891-92, the 20-year-old Eivind Astrup participated in an American expedition to North Greenland. Together with expedition leader Robert Peary, Astrup crossed the northern part of the ice sheet, from McCormick Bay in the west to Independence Sound in the east, a journey of about 2000 kilometres. This expedition was groundbreaking in several respects and was almost four times longer than Fridtjof Nansen’s expedition across the ice sheet four years earlier. On his return to Norway, Astrup was received with great acclaim and made a Knight of the Order of St. Olav, then the youngest ever to receive this honour.
In February 1893, Astrup gave a lecture on the Greenland expedition to the Student Society in Kristiania (Oslo), at which Roald Amundsen was present. The lecture made a deep impression on Amundsen, such that he headed straight out on a trip with several friends that same evening.
Astrup returned to Greenland with Robert Peary in 1893-94, but their success was not repeated. Several expedition members became ill, including Astrup, which prevented his participation in a new journey across the ice sheet. Instead, he retraced the 1300 kilometres back to Melville Bay by sledge.
After these expeditions, Astrup wrote the book Among North Pole Neighbours, which in addition to describing the sledge journey was hailed as a unique ethnographic description of the people of North Greenland.
Eivind Astrup had several detailed plans for further expeditions to both the Arctic and the Antarctic but never managed to realize them. In December 1895, he travelled to the Dovrefjell mountains, and on 27 December he left Hjerkinn Fjellstue carrying a light lunch, some clothes, and a revolver.
A little later that morning, the neighbour on the nearest farm heard a shot.
The stone monument erected at the place where Eivind Astrup was found. This photograph is from Roald Amundsen’s house. Whether Amundsen visited the site himself, and how he obtained the photograph, are unknown. Photo: Follo Museum, MiA
Twenty-five days passed before Astrup’s body was found. News of his death was met with something close to a national mourning and a large crowd attended the funeral a few days later.
In 1899, when Amundsen participated in the Belgica expedition to Antarctica, he named “Cap Eivind Astrup” in the explorer’s honour. In Amundsen’s study can be found two portraits of the man he considered one of his greatest heroes.
The photographs of Astrup that Amundsen kept in his study at home in Svartskog. Photo: Follo Museum, MiA.
Sources:
Astrup, Eivind: Blandt Nordpolens naboer, 1895 Bloch-Nakkerud, Tom: Polarforskeren Eivind Astrup. En pionér blant Nordpolens naboer, 2011
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.