Birth of Roald Amundsen
Birth of Roald Amundsen
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen Biography and Timeline
Follow Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen through 51 dated historical records for Norway.
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
51Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1872–1911Years on this page
1872
1897
Belgian Antarctic Expedition
Amundsen joins the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-99) as first mate
1898
Belgian Antarctic Expedition
Serves on Adrien de Gerlache's Belgica expedition, the first expedition to winter in Antarctica, and learns polar survival lessons including the value of fresh meat against scurvy
1903
Discovery of North West Passage
Amundsen and the crew learned from the local Netsilik Inuit people about Arctic survival skills, which he found invaluable in his later expedition to the South Pole.
Discovery of North West Passage
Amundsen led the first expedition to successfully traverse Canadas Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (something explorers had been attempting since the days of Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson).
Discovery of North West Passage
For example, he learned to use sled dogs for transportation of goods and to wear animal skins in lieu of heavy, woolen parkas, which could not deter cold when wet
Discovery of North West Passage
Leaves on the Gjoa to sail the North West Passage & reach the North Magnetic Pole.
North Magnetic Pole
Leaves on the Gjoa to sail the North West Passage & reach the North Magnetic Pole
1906
Discovery of North West Passage
Amundsens crew returned to Oslo in November 1906, after almost 3.5 years abroad
Discovery of North Pole
Reaches sight of the Magnetic North Pole but discovers that it is migratory
Discovery of North West Passage
Amundsens crew returned to Oslo in November 1906, after almost 3.5 years abroad. Amundsens team reach Nome in 1906. Because the water along the route was sometimes as shallow as 3 ft (0.91 m), a larger ship could not have made the voyag. 1st person to navigate the North West Passage
North Magnetic Pole
Reaches sight of the Magnetic North Pole but discovers that it is migratory
1909
Discovery of Antarctica
After hearing that Frederick Cook and Robert Peary claim the North Pole, decides to redirect his polar ambitions toward Antarctica
Discovery of North Pole
Wants to be the 1st to reach the North Pole but Peary & Henson beat him to it so decides to head for the South Pole
Discovery of South Pole
Decides to be the 1st to the South Pole after being beaten to the North Pole
South Pole Decision
Redirects plans from the North Pole to Antarctica after claims that the North Pole has already been reached
South Pole Expedition
Plans to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole after the North Pole has apparently been claimed by American expeditions
1910
Discovery of South Pole
Using the ship Fram ("Forward"), earlier used by Fridtjof Nansen, he left Norway for the south, leaving Oslo
South Pole Expedition
Amundsen left Oslo for the south on 3 June 1910
Fram Expedition
Sails from Norway in Fram while still publicly presenting the voyage as an Arctic expedition
Fram Expedition
Reveals to his crew that the Fram expedition is bound for Antarctica and not the Arctic Ocean
South Pole Expedition
At Madeira, tells his men that Fram will proceed to Antarctica and sends Scott the telegram: BEG TO INFORM YOU FRAM PROCEEDING ANTARCTIC--AMUNDSEN
South Pole
Announces the southern objective of the Fram expedition at Madeira and turns openly toward the race for the South Pole
1911
Framheim
Establishes Framheim at the Bay of Whales as the Norwegian base for the South Pole attempt
South Pole Expedition
The expedition arrived at the eastern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf (then known as "the Great Ice Barrier"), at a large inlet called the Bay of Whales
South Pole Expedition
Amundsen established his base camp there, calling it Framheim
South Pole
The expedition arrived at the eastern edge of Ross Ice Shelf at a large inlet called the Bay of Whales where Amundsen located his base camp and named it Framheim
Depot Journey
Begins depot-laying journeys across the Ross Ice Shelf to prepare the route toward the Pole
South Pole Attempt
Begins an early start for the Pole but turns back after severe cold shows that the attempt is premature
South Pole Expedition
A small group, including Hjalmar Johansen, Kristian Prestrud and Jørgen Stubberud, set out on 8 September 1911, but had to abandon their trek due to extreme temperatures
South Pole Expedition
A second attempt, with a team made up of Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, and Amundsen, depart base camp. They took four sledges and 52 dogs
South Pole Expedition
Sets out from Framheim with Bjaaland, Hanssen, Hassel and Wisting for the successful South Pole journey
South Pole
A second attempt with a team, consisting of Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, and Amundsen himself, depart taking four sledges and 52 dogs
South Pole Expedition
The expedition arrives at the edge of the Polar Plateau
South Pole
Using a route along the previously unknown Axel Heiberg Glacier Amundsen arrives at the edge of the Polar Plateau after a four-day climb
1st South Pole
1st person to reach the South Pole, beating Captain Scott
Discovery of South Pole
Amundsen renamed the Antarctic Plateau as King Haakon VIIs Plateau. Amundsen names their South Pole camp Polheim, "Home on the Pole.". Amundens team of six, with 16 dogs, arrived at the Pole (9000S). they arrive 35 days before Scotts group. 1st person to reach the South Pole, beating Captain Scott
South Pole Expedition
Amundsens team of five, with 16 dogs, arrives at the Pole (90° 0 S). They arrived 3334 days before Scotts group. Amundsen named their South Pole camp Polheim, meaning "Home on the Pole." Amundsen renamed the Antarctic Plateau as King Haakon VIIs Plateau. They left a small tent and letter stating their accomplishment, in case they did not return safely to Framheim
South Pole
Amundsen renamed the Antarctic Plateau as King Haakon VIIs Plateau
South Pole
Becomes the first expedition leader to reach the Geographic South Pole
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.