Born: 1895, Gøteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden Died: 1928, during Italia expedition north of Svalbard
Finn Adolf Erik Johan Malmgren began his studies at Uppsala University in 1912 and completed his bachelor’s degree in 1916. He then spent a year at the Pårte meteorological observatory in the Sarek mountains of northern Sweden, before returning to Uppsala to work as a university teaching assistant. In 1921, he started work on studies of ocean currents at Bornö research station in Bohuslän. Malmgren’s qualities, and the connections he made with Norway’s academic community, led to his being recommended to Roald Amundsen as a research assistant for Harald Ulrik Sverdrup on the Maud expedition. Malmgren was invited to participate in the expedition’s second phase and he joined the ship in Nome, Alaska, in the summer of 1922 📜.
Malmgren’s working relationship with Sverdrup on Maud was a close one. Sverdrup’s book about the expedition described him as very engaged in the scientific work, but also very absent-minded – “Once he has become an old professor, there will probably be countless stories about him,” wrote Sverdrup 📜.
Malmgren analyses water samples on board Maud. Poto: Norwegian Polar Institute / National Library of Norway.
When the Maud expedition ended in 1925, Malmgren and Sverdrup continued to work on the scientific material. Malmgren published several articles based on it, including his doctoral dissertation on the properties of sea ice in 1927. He also presented a lecture he called “3 years in the drift ice”.
Just a year later, in 1926, Malmgren joined Amundsen on another expedition, this time as a meteorologist on the flight of the airship Norge across the Arctic Ocean 📜. In a radio broadcast afterwards, Amundsen stressed the importance of Malmgren’s role and work 📜, as amply evidenced in Malmgren’s chapter on weather and weather forecasting in the book about the expedition 📜.
Malmgren before departure with the airship Norge. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute / National Library of Norway.
After the Norge expedition, rumours circulated that Malmgren and several of the crew planned to fly around the world via the poles, but this was never realized.
In 1928, Malmgren joined another expedition as meteorologist, this time on the airship Italia led by Umberto Nobile. When the airship crashed north of Svalbard on its return from the North Pole, Malmgren was one of several thrown onto the ice. With Italians Filippo Zappi and Adalberto Mariano, Malmgren headed for Svalbard on foot to seek help. The Italians were spotted six weeks later by a Russian search, but Finn Malmgren was not with them. According to Zappi, with frost-bitten feet, Malmgren had finally lain down on the ice and asked the others to dig a grave for him. That Zappi and Mariano were themselves saved and Malmgren’s body never found encouraged speculation, particularly in the anti-fascist Russian press, as to whether the Italians had behaved honourably 📜.
During his lifetime, Finn Malmgren received several awards and honours, including being made first a Knight, and then a Commander, of the Order of St. Olav, after his participations in the Maud and Norge expeditions.
Finn Malmgren Fjord in Nordaustlandet, Svalbard, bears the explorer-scientist’s name, and there are several memorials to him in Sweden.
In Hammarbyhöjden, Stockholm, is Finn Malmgrens plan, in which stands the sculpture “Farewell on the polar ice” by Elsie Dahlberg-Sundborg. The sculpture depicts the moment Zappi and Mariano leave Malmgren to die in 1928.
Sources:
Riksarkivet.se: Finn A E J Malmgren Wetterfors, P. Finn Malmgren: hans liv och arbete, Stockholm, 1928
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.