Lecointe was a lieutenant in the Belgian artillery, who had entered the Royal Military Academy in Brussels in 1886 and while there become friends with Émile Danco. Lecointe then spent three years on secondment to the French Navy, at the end of which he published a course on navigation for navy students of the École Polytechnique and was received into France’s Légion d’Honneur.
It was Danco who suggested that Adrien de Gerlache recruit his friend to the Belgica expedition, and Lecointe became the ship’s captain and the expedition’s deputy leader. He also had responsibility for the hydrographical and astronomical work (and following Danco’s death, for the geophysical observations).
Photo: Follo museum, MiA.
When Carl August Wiencke was washed overboard in 1898, Lecointe, according to de Gerlache’s report, tied a line around his waist and lowered himself into the sea to try to rescue the unfortunate young sailor, but when a great wave broke over the two of them, Lecointe could not hold on. Ludwig Johansen had a second opportunity to save Wiencke, but he too lost his grip and Wiencke disappeared in the waves.
Later, during the overwintering in Antarctica, Lecointe contributed text to Émile Racovitza’s cartoons in the expedition ship’s magazine, “The Ladysless South” [sic] 📜.
Source: National Library of Norway.
After the expedition, in 1900, Lecointe was appointed scientific director at the Royal Belgian Observatory (Observatoire royal de Belgique / Koninklijke Sterrenwacht van België) and later became director. His book on the Belgica expedition, Au pays des manchots: recit du voyage de la “Belgica” (In the land of the penguins: an account of the voyage of the “Belgica”), was published in 1904. Lecointe was heavily involved in the publishing of the scientific results of the expedition 📜, and went on to publish several other scientific works, particularly in the field of astronomy. He was also very active in promoting international cooperation in science and polar studies.
Lecointe stayed in contact with Roald Amundsen after the Belgica expedition and several of his letters to him are now in the National Library of Norway 📜.
In his book on the Fram expedition to Antarctica, Amundsen presented Lecointe as a mainstay of the Belgica expedition:
“Amiable and firm, he secured the respect of all. As a navigator and astronomer he was unsurpassable, and when he later took over the magnetic work, he rendered great service in this department also.” 📜
Lecointe died aged 60 on May 27, 1929.
Source:
Sancton, Julian: Madhouse at the end of the earth (2021)
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.