Robert Edwin Peary was born in 1856, the eighth of May, in Pennsylvania, USA. In the two years he lost his father, who died. Robert was alone with his mother. He graduated from high school, college. He worked as a draftsman in the service of the U.S. Coast Geodetic. Then moved to the Naval Office, was promoted to lieutenant, an engineer. In the tropical forests of Nicaragua canal route survey conducted by the isthmus. And in 1886 he took leave, he asked his mother $ 500 and all of a sudden went to Greenland ... Ancient geographers divided the globe into five latitudinal zones, only two of which are considered reasonable and habitable. Equatorial belt was considered uninhabitable because of heat, and the two polar - due to the cold. Passed the century and millennium, and the idea of ??polar regions were full of absurdities and superstitions. There lies the realm of ice and darkness, there is a viscous, filled with monsters sea. There opened mouth of the abyss, where all flow into the sea and where there are ebbs and flows. In June 1886 whaling boat "Eagle" (Eagle) landed in Godhavne Pirie. His plan was simple: to cross Greenland from west coast to the east. Indeed, while the inner part of the island remained a blank spot on the map. This we now know that it is completely covered with ice, and then reigned view: ice only skirt the island. And behind them should be areas of rocks with a mild climate, even covered with forests. In 1878, Greenland was trying to cross a Dane Jensen, and in 1883 - Swede Norden Scheldt. But both attempts failed. Peary also failed to achieve success. For 26 days his unit was able to move less than 100 miles into the icy wilderness. It was smaller than its predecessors. But the Peary was able to make a name for himself and became ill the North. So it was so there - the poles of the planet has always attracted not only scientists but people far from science. Some of them thought of the glory of the motherland, while others - about the personal glory. Peary was not a scientist. He was just a very ambitious man. They moved the desire for fame, glory unlimited. Peary himself wrote in his letter: "I must achieve fame ...»," I'd like to earn a name in order to feel superior to all whom happen to meet in life. " In 1888, Norwegians, led by Fridtjof Nansen made the same attempt. Nansen's plan a complete success - the first time in history the Norwegians managed to cross the ice sheet and deliver science first information about the inner parts of Greenland. Peary at this time in Nicaragua. After learning about the expedition Nansen, he said: "This design conceived by the company I dealt a serious blow to me." Enlisting the support of the American Geographical Society and the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, receiving cash grants, Peary in 1891, went back to Greenland in order to cross the island and reach its northern border. At the beginning of something unexpected happened: Peary received a fracture of both legs. Thanks to the care of a physician Frederick Cook and his wife Josephine Peary quickly recovered. Peary went ahead and passed through the glacial shield more than 2000 kilometers, having made a double crossing in the northern part of Greenland. In January 1899 Pirie was preparing to throw the pole, but was forced to turn back as eight frostbitten toes. But the Peary did not give up. He believes that age is not important - more important than experience, the will. And at the end of February 1909 Piri takes off from Cape Columbia on 19 sleds, with 133 dogs and only 24 people. Until the fall of the world knew nothing of Peary. On September 7 in Europe, came the news of the conquest of the pole. But they were honored by Frederick Cook, who reached the summit of the world April 21, 1908! It seemed that Peary and Cook rightly share their successes. But there it was. Scandal. Peary accused Cook of the hype of the public. Began mutual recriminations, which won Pirie. In an atmosphere of organized persecution of the name of Cook was hopelessly tainted. He has gone away from America. Later, the doctor accused of profiteering "inflated stock (he organized the Texas oil company) and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. The irony - oil stocks were not inflated. Sites in Texas gave millions of profits to new owners. Now that was almost a hundred years since, scientists say that the evidence did not provide either Cook or Peary. But still ... In 1911, after much debate, the lower house of Congress adopted a resolution, which was soon signed by the president. Peary was awarded the title of Rear Admiral and on behalf of Congress, I express my thanks for his Arctic research. Robert Peary during his lifetime were provided with many honors. Frederick Cook died in 1940, humiliated and defame. He had to pass i.cherez prison and a madhouse. Only in 1965 again hung a portrait of Cook in the American Explorers Club, an honorary president of which he once was. But still the tradition pioneered the North Pole has always believed Robert Peary. And the name of Frederick Cook remains in the shadows.
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