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Cook was a friend and mentor to Amundsen. Best known for claiming to be the first man to the North Pole.

Frederick Albert Cook Polar explorer and close friend Born: 1865, Hortonville, New York, USADied: 1940, New Rochelle, New York, USA Photo: Follo museum, MiA. The friendship between Frederick Albert Cook and Roald Amundsen began during the Belgica expedition (1897-99). Cook had previously participated in an expedition to Greenland and became an important mentor for Amundsen, particularly in regard to equipment and nutrition. After the Belgica expedition, Cook became known for several controversial feats. In 1906, he claimed to have reached the summit of North America’s highest mountain, Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) in Alaska. Doubts later arose as to whether he had reached the very top or not. In 1909, he believed that he had reached the North Pole, thus becoming the first to do so. According to his own calculations, he had reached the northernmost point of the globe on 21 April 1908. Frederick Cook claimed that this photograph, taken in April 1908, showed the first people at the North Pole. The truth of this is still debated. Photo: Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. When his claim was met with scepticism, however, Cook found it difficult to prove that he had reached the North Pole itself. An audio recording exists of Cook describing his polar journey: Audio recording of Frederick Cook’s description of the North Pole. Retrieved from Archive.org, History Speaks Vol.2. On arriving in Copenhagen in September 1909, Cook was hailed by many, including Roald Amundsen. But he was also criticized, especially by the American Robert Peary, who believed that he had reached the North Pole first in April 1909 and that Cook was a liar. This created a great deal of controversy, which continues even today, but Amundsen supported Cook and stated this several times to the press. Cook’s later life was marked by ups and downs, but surely the worst year was 1923, in which he was jailed on charges of financial fraud and his marriage was dissolved. Amundsen remained Cook’s friend nevertheless, and in 1926 visited him in Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. During his visit to Leavenworth, Amundsen gave Cook one of his books as a gift and in return received a table runner, which Cook had embroidered himself in his prison cell. The table runner Cook embroidered in his prison cell in Leavenworth and later gave to Roald Amundsen. Today it is on a table in Amundsen’s living room at Uranienborg. Photo: Follo museum, MiA. Sources: Polarhistorie.no: Frederick Cook ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZÆØÅ Aleingan (Kagoptinner) Netsilik Inuit Aleingan (Kagoptinner) Netsilik Inuit One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage, 1903-06. A tinted photograph of him hangs in Amundsen’s home. Read more Renato Alessandrini Helmsman and polar explorer Renato Alessandrini Helmsman and polar explorer Helmsman on the Norge-expedition Read more Gustav “Busken” Amundsen Brother Gustav “Busken” Amundsen Brother Gustav was nicknamed “Busken” at a young age. He was the second oldest of the four Amundsen brothers. Read more Gustav “Goggen” Amundsen Nephew, contributor to the establishment of a museum at Amundsen’s home Gustav “Goggen” Amundsen Nephew, contributor to the establishment of a museum at Amundsen’s home “Goggen” was the nephew of Roald Amundsen and played a key role in the opening of Amundsen’s home as a museum Read more Hanne Henrikke Gustava Amundsen (née Sahlqvist) Mother Hanne Henrikke Gustava Amundsen (née Sahlqvist) Mother Gustava was the mother of Roald Amundsen and his three brothers. Read more Jens Engebreth Amundsen Father Jens Engebreth Amundsen Father Roald Amundsen’s father spent many years at sea. He died on a journey home from England in 1886, when Roald Amundsen was 14 years old. Read more Jens Ole Antonius “Tonni” Amundsen Brother Jens Ole Antonius “Tonni” Amundsen Brother Eldest brother, nicknamed “Tonni”, was born in China and was one of the brothers least involved in Roald Amundsen’s expeditions. Read more Leon Henry Benham Amundsen Brother Leon Henry Benham Amundsen Brother Leon was two years older than Roald, and played a key role in several of Roald’s expeditions until the brothers split in 1924. Read more Malfred Fritzner Amundsen Sister-in-law Malfred Fritzner Amundsen Sister-in-law Malfred was the sister-in-law of Roald Amundsen, and in his will he made her his sole heir. Read more Nita Kakot Amundsen Foster daughter Nita Kakot Amundsen Foster daughter The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog together with Amundsen in 1922 where they lived until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”. Read more Ole Amundsen Grandfather Ole Amundsen Grandfather Ole Amundsen was the father of Jens Engebreth Amundsen (Roald Amundsen’s father) and his eleven siblings. Read more Betty Anderson Nanny Betty Anderson Nanny Betty was one of the key women in Amundsen’s life. She was the nanny when he grew up, and when Amundsen moved to Svartskog, she joined hi...

Frederick Albert Cook - Amundsen