Born into the middle class Artzt family in German-occupied Poland, Henryk was in trouble at school for expressing his Polish patriotism and was sent to study sciences abroad, first at the University of Liège in Belgium and then at the Sorbonne and elsewhere in Paris. He changed his surname to the more Polish-sounding Arctowski after graduating and began his career in the chemistry department back in Liège.
In 1895, Arctowski applied to join Adrien de Gerlache’s planned expedition to Antarctica, and after a wide-ranging correspondence between the two, was recruited to lead the expedition’s scientific work. Arctowski prepared himself by studying glaciology in Switzerland, oceanography in England, and meteorology in Belgium.
Photo: Follo Museum, MiA.
Amundsen later described Arctowski as “[…] a versatile man. It was a strenuous task he had, that of constantly watching wind and weather. Conscientious as he was, he never let slip an opportunity of adding to the scientific results of the voyage.” 📜
Together with Antoni Bolesław Dobrowolski, Arctowksi carried out a mass of detailed scientific observations that included ocean and air temperatures, air pressure, snowfall, wind, and the aurora australis. Spanning as they did an entire year, the resulting meteorological and oceanographical observation series were the first of their kind from south of the Antarctic Circle.
After returning from Antarctica in 1899, Arctowski was made a Knight of the Order of Leopold and began working at the Royal Observatory of Belgium in Uccle, which was by then led by Georges Lecointe. Arctowski also worked on the publication of the scientific results from the Belgica expedition, which would take many years to complete. In 1905, the Norwegian press reported a plan of Arctowski’s to return to Antarctica and explore the South Pole region with motorised sledges, but the expedition was never realised 📜.
Arktowski married the American singer and actor Arian Jane Addy in 1909 and left the following year for the USA, where he became director of the scientific section of the New York Public Library. He would go on to became a pioneer of climate science, and also demonstrate a strong political commitment to his newly-independent native Poland.
He returned to live in Poland in 1920 and was appointed director and professor of geophysics and meteorology at the university in Lwów (now Lviv in modern Ukraine). In 1939, just before the invasion of Poland that triggered the Second World War, he travelled to a conference in the United States. Unable to return home, Arctowski and his wife remained in the US, where he became a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution and worked until retirement.
Arctowski stayed in touch with Roald Amundsen for several years after the Belgica expedition and his letters to Amundsen are now kept at the National Library of Norway. Arctowski also had close contact through the 1930s with Harald Ulrik Sverdrup.
Several geographical features in both polar regions are named in honour of Arctowski, as is Poland’s Antarctic research station on King George Island.
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.