Who allegedly led the first expedition to reach the North Pole?

BRY2K

Allegedly is the key word. On April 6th, 1909, Robert Peary claimed to be the first person in recorded history to reach the North Pole (although whether he actually reached the Pole is doubtful). He traveled with the aid of dogsleds and three separate support crews who turned back at successive intervals before reaching the Pole. Many modern explorers, including Olympic skiers using modern equipment, contend that Peary could not have reached the pole on foot in the time he claimed. In 2005 British explorer Tom Avery, with four colleagues, completed a trek to the pole in 36 days, 22 hours and 11 minutes using 16 husky dogs, and pulling two sledges which were replicas of those used by Peary. Some believe Avery's expedition has vindicated Peary, showing that Peary's speeds were not so impossible after all, since Avery's time was some four hours faster than Peary's claim. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Exploration Apr 04 08, 7:32 AM

author

If Peary was there in 1909, certainly this man - Matthew Henson - was there also. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Henson NOTE: Impressed with Henson’s seamanship, Peary recruited him as a colleague. In 1909, Peary mounted his eighth attempt to reach the North Pole, selecting Henson to be one of the team of six who would make the final run to the Pole. Before the goal was reached, Peary could no longer continue on foot and rode in a dog sled. Various accounts say he was ill, exhausted, or had frozen toes. In any case, he sent Henson on ahead as a scout. Henson then proceeded to plant the American flag. [Note added - Zb] Apr 05 08, 11:49 AM