May 13

Deaths - Explorers & Adventurers

1930day.year

Fridtjof Nansen

(1861 - 1930)

Norwegian scientist, explorer, and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Norwegian scientist explorer and academic Nobel Prize laureate

Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with refugees.

Born in 1861, Fridtjof Nansen was a pioneering Arctic explorer who led the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888. He commanded the ship Fram on an ambitious polar drift expedition that provided valuable scientific and geographical data. A trained zoologist, Nansen contributed to oceanography and invented devices such as the Nansen bottle for collecting deep-sea samples. After World War I, he served as League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, designing the 'Nansen passport' for stateless persons. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. Nansen's diverse legacy spans exploration, science, and humanitarian advocacy.

1930 Fridtjof Nansen Nobel Prize

2009day.year

Achille Compagnoni

(1914 - 2009)

Italian skier and mountaineer

Italian mountaineer and skier, part of the first team to summit K2 in 1954.

Born in 1914 in Italy, Compagnoni honed his skills as a skier before turning to mountaineering. In 1954, he achieved the first successful ascent of K2, the world's second-highest peak, alongside Lino Lacedelli. His expedition was marked by controversy over team dynamics and support climbers. Beyond K2, he participated in numerous Himalayan and Alpine climbs, demonstrating technical prowess. Compagnoni's achievements inspired future generations of climbers and adventurers. He documented his experiences in memoirs, offering insight into the challenges of high-altitude climbing.

Achille Compagnoni