Washington Greely was an American Polar explorer, a United States Army officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Background
He volunteered at 17 as a private in the Union Army and rose to the rank of brevet major during the Civil War. When the United States joined the plan to institute international circumpolar stations, Greely was appointed in 1881 to command an expedition to establish one of the meteorological and magnetic observation posts.
Education
Newburyport High School
Career
In 1882 some of Greely's party reached 83°24'83d24' north latitude and 42°45'42d45' west longitude, a point farther north than any previously recorded. Others explored the interior of Ellesmere Island, discovering Lake Hazen and the United States Range, and reached the island's west coast at Greely Fiord, which was named after their commander. Relief ships failed to reach this party in 1882 and 1883. Greely's group left Fort Conger on Aug. 9, 1883, and proceeded southward by boat. Ice compelled the men to abandon the vessel and take refuge on Bedford Pim Island, off Cape Sabine, where they experienced appalling hardships. Only 7 of 25 men survived when a rescue ship arrived in 1884.
Achievements
Works
book
Handbook of Polar Exploration (1906)
True Tales of Arctic Heroism (1912)
Handbook of Alaska (1925)
Reminiscences of Travel and Adventure (1927)
Polar Regions of the Twentieth Century (1928)
Membership
Connections
Spouse Henrietta H. C. Nesmith, June 20, 1878, San Diego, California.