Who
Was Frederick A. Cook?
A pioneer
American Polar explorer, Dr. Cook spent two
decades in expeditions to both Polar regions and
subarctic Alaska between 1891 and 1909. Many
authorities acknowledge him as the discoverer of the
geographical North Pole in 1908. He was the
first American to spend forced winters in both the
Antarctic and the Arctic and is credited with saving
the "Belgica" expedition to the South Polar
regions in 1897-99.
In 1906
his first reported ascent of Alaska's Mt. McKinley
(which he was the first to circumnavigate in 1903) was
accepted until a bitter controversy arose in late 1908
about Cook's claim to having reached the North Pole on
April 21, 1908. Cook was knighted by the King of the
Belgians, honored by geographical societies and
authored five books about his experiences.
Cook received
a Presidential pardon for a federal conviction in 1923
involving Texas oil properties, which resulted in
immense wealth for those who purchased them as
sheriff's sale while Cook was in prison. Cook was born
in Hortonville, NY in 1865 and died in New Rochelle,
NY in 1940. State historical markers are at his
birthplace and near his remains in Forest Lawn,
Buffalo, NY.
