June 18

Born in Borge, Norway, in 1872, Roald Amundsen became one of history's most celebrated explorers. He led the first successful expedition through the Northwest Passage between 1903 and 1906. In 1911, Amundsen achieved the first journey to the South Pole, outpacing British explorer Robert Falcon Scott. He continued his polar work with Arctic expeditions and pioneered the use of aviation in exploration. On June 18, 1928, Amundsen disappeared while flying on a rescue mission in the Arctic, cementing his legacy as a fearless adventurer.

On June 18, 2023, the Titan submersible imploded during an expedition to survey the wreck of the RMS Titanic, killing four high-profile passengers.\nShahzada Dawood was a Pakistani-British businessman and philanthropist with a passion for exploration.\nHamish Harding, a British entrepreneur and aviator, funded and participated in several deep-sea expeditions.\nPaul-Henri Nargeolet, a retired French navy commander known as one of the world’s foremost Titanic experts, co-led previous dives to the wreck.\nStockton Rush was the American CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions, whose company built the ill-fated vessel.\nTheir tragic end underscored the risks inherent in pushing the boundaries of exploration.

Hamish Harding was a British business executive and adventurer, serving as chairman of Action Aviation. An accomplished pilot, he set world records for long-distance and high-altitude flights. He had a passion for exploration, undertaking deep-sea voyages including visits to the Titanic wreck. Harding contributed to conservation and scientific research through collaborations on oceanographic missions. In June 2023, he perished during a submersible expedition to the Titanic site. His legacy inspires future explorers and innovators in aviation and deep-sea research.

Henri Nargeolet was a French naval commander with a distinguished career in undersea exploration. He participated in over 120 deep-sea dives, uncovering historic shipwrecks including the RMS Titanic. As Honorary Consul of France in Boston, he fostered international collaboration in marine archaeology. His work contributed to scientific understanding of deep-ocean ecosystems and wreck preservation. He perished aboard the Titan submersible in June 2023 during a Titanic expedition. Nargeolet's legacy lives on through advances in oceanography and maritime heritage.