Born: 1875, Beitstad, Norway Died: 1919, Siberia, Russia
Peter Lorents Tessem took part in the Maud expedition as a carpenter, but perished in 1919 on a sledge expedition together with Paul Knutsen.
Tessem had already applied in 1909 to join Amundsen’s planned expedition with the Fram over the Arctic Ocean (that went instead to Antarctica). He wasn’t given a place then, but in 1918, when the Maud was ready to sail and Amundsen ready for a new attempt, Tessem was part of the crew.
Tessem on board Maud in October 1918. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute / National Library of Norway.
Tessem had recently taken part in the American Ziegler expedition to Franz Josef Land in 1903-05. In the summers of 1906, 1907 and 1908 he was involved in the American Walter Wellman’s unsuccessful attempt to fly to the North Pole from Svalbard.
During the Maud expedition, Tessem impressed with his abilities, and Amundsen described him as “…of the type who keeps his mouth closed during working hours, but lets his hands run all the more diligently.” But during the first winter, Tessem often struggled with a lot of headaches. According to Helmer Hanssen, who was a good friend of Tessem from before, Tessem struggled to sleep at night and was often seen walking on the ice for hours with pain he did not know how to handle. Around New Year 1919, Tessem was treated for what they thought was nephritis, but without any major effect.
Tessem with his dog team and lead dog “Pan”, who was a German Shepherd. Photo taken in April 1919. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute / National Library of Norway.
Amundsen himself thought that Tessem wanted to leave the expedition, and as a pretext for this gave him responsibility for taking scientific material and post home to Norway. Together with Paul Knutsen, he left Maud in September 1919, with the goal of reaching the telegraph station at Dikson, some 900 kilometres away. What actually happened during the sledge journey is still unknown.
In 1922, a Soviet expedition found objects and scientific material in the vicinity of the Zeledeyeva river, 80 kilometres from Dikson. Later, just three kilometres from the station at Dikson, the skeleton of a man was found. Discovered on the body among other things, were a gold watch with Tessem’s name engraved and a gold ring with the name of Tessem’s wife, Pauline. The body was buried near Dikson and a memorial erected.
This flag was found with Tessem’s remains in 1922. It was later sent to Norway, framed, and placed on the piano in the living room of Amundsen’s home. Photo: Follo Museum, MiA.
Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, there was discussion over whether the remains were those of Tessem or Knutsen. After the body was exhumed in 1983, examinations of the teeth, cranium and blood type confirmed that the remains belonged to Peter Tessem.
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.