EXPLORER
Matthew Henson
1866 - 1955

Matthew Henson
Matthew Alexander Henson (August 8, 1866 – March 9, 1955) was an African American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on seven voyages to the Arctic over a period of nearly 23 years. They spent a total of 18 years on expeditions together. He is best known for his participation in the 1908–1909 expedition that claimed to have reached the geographic North Pole on April 6, 1909. To promote a lecture tour, Henson later said he was the first of their party to reach the North Pole but there is no evidence for this. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Matthew Henson is the 449th most popular explorer (down from 444th in 2019), the 9,026th most popular biography from United States (down from 8,222nd in 2019) and the 32nd most popular American Explorer.
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Among EXPLORERS
Among explorers, Matthew Henson ranks 449 out of 498. Before him are Georgy Ushakov, Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz, Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, Frans Blom, John Gardner Wilkinson, and Valerian Albanov. After him are Jan Carstenszoon, Charles Sturt, Herbert Ponting, George Back, Ed Stafford, and Apsley Cherry-Garrard.
Most Popular Explorers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsGeorgy Ushakov
1901 - 1963
HPI: 54.27
Rank: 443
Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz
1936 - 2021
HPI: 54.21
Rank: 444
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón
1478 - 1526
HPI: 54.21
Rank: 445
Frans Blom
1893 - 1963
HPI: 54.17
Rank: 446
John Gardner Wilkinson
1797 - 1875
HPI: 54.11
Rank: 447
Valerian Albanov
1881 - 1919
HPI: 54.08
Rank: 448
Matthew Henson
1866 - 1955
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 449
Jan Carstenszoon
HPI: 53.94
Rank: 450
Charles Sturt
1795 - 1869
HPI: 53.89
Rank: 451
Herbert Ponting
1870 - 1935
HPI: 53.86
Rank: 452
George Back
1796 - 1878
HPI: 53.77
Rank: 453
Ed Stafford
1975 - Present
HPI: 53.66
Rank: 454
Apsley Cherry-Garrard
1886 - 1959
HPI: 53.29
Rank: 455
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1866, Matthew Henson ranks 141. Before him are Oskar Messter, Fred Karno, Harry Davenport, Józef Pankiewicz, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, and Ndre Mjeda. After him are George Milne, 1st Baron Milne, Gustav de Vries, Ernest Mangnall, Miina Sillanpää, Maud Gonne, and Cornelia Sorabji. Among people deceased in 1955, Matthew Henson ranks 153. Before him are Shemp Howard, John Hodiak, Arturo Coddou, William C. deMille, John Fenning, and Einar Arnórsson. After him are Aleksei Dikiy, Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, Robert E. Sherwood, Richard Verderber, Giuseppe Domenichelli, and George van Rossem.
Others Born in 1866
Go to all RankingsOskar Messter
PRODUCER
1866 - 1943
HPI: 54.90
Rank: 135
Fred Karno
BUSINESSPERSON
1866 - 1941
HPI: 54.89
Rank: 136
Harry Davenport
ACTOR
1866 - 1949
HPI: 54.88
Rank: 137
Józef Pankiewicz
PAINTER
1866 - 1940
HPI: 54.85
Rank: 138
Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
POLITICIAN
1866 - 1941
HPI: 54.76
Rank: 139
Ndre Mjeda
WRITER
1866 - 1937
HPI: 54.11
Rank: 140
Matthew Henson
EXPLORER
1866 - 1955
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 141
George Milne, 1st Baron Milne
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1866 - 1948
HPI: 53.98
Rank: 142
Gustav de Vries
MATHEMATICIAN
1866 - 1934
HPI: 53.95
Rank: 143
Ernest Mangnall
COACH
1866 - 1932
HPI: 53.93
Rank: 144
Miina Sillanpää
POLITICIAN
1866 - 1952
HPI: 53.81
Rank: 145
Maud Gonne
ACTOR
1866 - 1953
HPI: 53.68
Rank: 146
Cornelia Sorabji
WRITER
1866 - 1954
HPI: 53.10
Rank: 147
Others Deceased in 1955
Go to all RankingsShemp Howard
ACTOR
1895 - 1955
HPI: 54.41
Rank: 147
John Hodiak
ACTOR
1914 - 1955
HPI: 54.36
Rank: 148
Arturo Coddou
SOCCER PLAYER
1905 - 1955
HPI: 54.21
Rank: 149
William C. deMille
FILM DIRECTOR
1878 - 1955
HPI: 54.10
Rank: 150
John Fenning
ATHLETE
1885 - 1955
HPI: 54.08
Rank: 151
Einar Arnórsson
POLITICIAN
1880 - 1955
HPI: 54.08
Rank: 152
Matthew Henson
EXPLORER
1866 - 1955
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 153
Aleksei Dikiy
ACTOR
1889 - 1955
HPI: 53.61
Rank: 154
Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva
PAINTER
1871 - 1955
HPI: 53.57
Rank: 155
Robert E. Sherwood
WRITER
1896 - 1955
HPI: 53.54
Rank: 156
Richard Verderber
FENCER
1884 - 1955
HPI: 53.51
Rank: 157
Giuseppe Domenichelli
GYMNAST
1887 - 1955
HPI: 53.35
Rank: 158
George van Rossem
POLITICIAN
1882 - 1955
HPI: 53.29
Rank: 159
In United States
Among people born in United States, Matthew Henson ranks 9,028 out of 20,380. Before him are Chita Rivera (1933), Clayton Anderson (1959), Ellsworth Vines (1911), Sally Mann (1951), Jake Roberts (1955), and James Hartle (1939). After him are Roy Thomas (1940), Robert Beltran (1953), Phil Harris (1904), Ronda Rousey (1987), Tim Holt (1919), and James Marshall (1967).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsChita Rivera
ACTOR
1933 - 2024
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,022
Clayton Anderson
ASTRONAUT
1959 - Present
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,023
Ellsworth Vines
TENNIS PLAYER
1911 - 1994
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,024
Sally Mann
PHOTOGRAPHER
1951 - Present
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,025
Jake Roberts
WRESTLER
1955 - Present
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,026
James Hartle
PHYSICIST
1939 - 2023
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,027
Matthew Henson
EXPLORER
1866 - 1955
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 9,028
Roy Thomas
COMIC ARTIST
1940 - Present
HPI: 54.02
Rank: 9,029
Robert Beltran
ACTOR
1953 - Present
HPI: 54.02
Rank: 9,030
Phil Harris
ACTOR
1904 - 1995
HPI: 54.02
Rank: 9,031
Ronda Rousey
MARTIAL ARTS
1987 - Present
HPI: 54.01
Rank: 9,032
Tim Holt
ACTOR
1919 - 1973
HPI: 54.01
Rank: 9,033
James Marshall
ACTOR
1967 - Present
HPI: 54.01
Rank: 9,034
Among EXPLORERS In United States
Among explorers born in United States, Matthew Henson ranks 32. Before him are John Wesley Powell (1834), Nathaniel Palmer (1799), George Kennan (1845), Charles Francis Hall (1821), Isaac Israel Hayes (1832), and Frederick Russell Burnham (1861). After him are John Colter (1774), Adolphus Greely (1844), Wiley Post (1898), Benjamin Morrell (1795), Ezra Meeker (1830), and Sue Hendrickson (1949).
John Wesley Powell
1834 - 1902
HPI: 57.41
Rank: 26
Nathaniel Palmer
1799 - 1877
HPI: 56.74
Rank: 27
George Kennan
1845 - 1924
HPI: 55.67
Rank: 28
Charles Francis Hall
1821 - 1871
HPI: 55.65
Rank: 29
Isaac Israel Hayes
1832 - 1881
HPI: 55.21
Rank: 30
Frederick Russell Burnham
1861 - 1947
HPI: 54.74
Rank: 31
Matthew Henson
1866 - 1955
HPI: 54.03
Rank: 32
John Colter
1774 - 1812
HPI: 52.70
Rank: 33
Adolphus Greely
1844 - 1935
HPI: 51.05
Rank: 34
Wiley Post
1898 - 1935
HPI: 50.88
Rank: 35
Benjamin Morrell
1795 - 1839
HPI: 50.33
Rank: 36
Ezra Meeker
1830 - 1928
HPI: 47.47
Rank: 37
Sue Hendrickson
1949 - Present
HPI: 47.32
Rank: 38