Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832-1901)

Abstract

In the shallow Queen Maud Gulf a series of small islands, named by Amundsen during his Northwest Passage voyage, commemorate the arctic exploits of a remarkable Finnish-Swede, Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. Though best known for his epic voyage in the Vega, which went through the Northeast Passage and circumnavigated Asia and Europe in 1878-80, Nordenskiöld had other bases for fame, including eight other trips to the Arctic. ... [These were primarily scientific expeditions concerned with investigating the glaciology, biology, geology, and palaeontology of Greenland, Spitzbergen, the Northeast Passage and Alaska.] For his efforts, Nordenskiöld received many awards and honours. After the 1868 expedition, the Royal Geographical Society in London awarded him the Founder's Medal. In addition he received the Roquette Medal from the Paris Geographical Society and a decoration from the king of Italy. After the trip down the Yenissey, he was named Corresponding Member of the French Academy, replacing the late Dr. Livingston. His adopted country bestowed on him its highest honour, the Grand Cross of the North Star. Nordenskiöld settled down to the life of an administrator of the Natural History Museum and that of a country squire, writing a Facsimile Atlas and a history of early charts and sailing, consulting with the Russian government and Australians on Antarctica. He was influential in Nansen's crossing of Greenland and Andree's attempt to fly a balloon across the Polar Cap. One son, Erland, studied Patagonia, while a nephew, Otto, was both an Arctic and Antarctic explorer. ...