On This Day in History

On This Day: Matthew Henson Reaches the North Pole — Recognition Comes Decades Later

Clay Cane
April 6, 2026

Matthew A. Henson, left, 83, receives a plaque from the Afro-American Newspapers in recognition of his part in the 1909 North Pole expedition in a ceremony at the U.S. Pentagon in Arlington, W. Va., April 6, 1950. Holding the plaque is Max Lerva, assistant secretary of defense. Capt. Daniel E. Patterson of Mission, Texas, presents a steel cannister containing the bible that Henson carried on his expedition. (AP Photo)

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(AURN News) — On April 6, 1909, Matthew Henson became the first African American to reach the North Pole, alongside explorer Robert Peary.

Originally hired as a valet, Henson proved indispensable, mastering Arctic travel, navigation and survival in brutal icy conditions.

Matthew A. Henson, 81, is shown in his apartment in New York City on March 26, 1948. (AP Photo)

Over years of dangerous expeditions, he endured hardships that caused others to turn back or die.

After multiple attempts, Henson, Peary, four Inuit guides and their dog teams finally reached the North Pole.

While Peary received widespread acclaim, Henson’s achievements were largely ignored, and he later worked as a clerk in a New York customs house.

He documented the journey in his memoir and decades later received recognition from The Explorers Club and the U.S. Navy before his death at age 88 in 1955.

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Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane