Roald Amundsen 1872-1928 Roald Amundsen, born in 1872 near Oslo, Norway, left his mark on the Heroic Era as one of the most successful polar explorers ever born. His career of adventure began at the age of 15, originally studying medicine, but dropping out to go to sea where he soon moved his way up to the rank of mate. His first experience in the Antarctic was with Adrien de Gerlache's 1899 ...

Biography of Roald Amundsen and news report of evidence that Amundsen, not Byrd, was the first to fly over the North Pole.

People & Events Roald Amundsen Roald Engebreth Gravning Amundsen of Norway took pride in being referred to as the last of the Vikings. A powerfully built man of over six feet in height, Amundsen was born into a family of merchant sea captains and prosperous ship owners in 1872. As a youth he insisted on sleeping with the windows open even during the frigid Norwegian winters to help condition ...