May 26

Lincoln Ellsworth was a prominent American explorer and aviator who made significant contributions to polar exploration. Born in Chicago in 1880, he financed and participated in several Arctic and Antarctic expeditions during the early 20th century. In 1925 and 1935, he achieved notable flights over uncharted areas of Antarctica alongside pilot Herbert Hollick-Kenyon. Ellsworth’s aerial surveys provided valuable geographic and scientific data that advanced the understanding of the Antarctic continent. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his achievements. A trustee of the American Museum of Natural History, he supported polar research and public education. Ellsworth died on May 26, 1951, remembered as a daring pioneer of polar aviation.