Explorer. Born in in Hasselt, Belgium, he was an engineer officer in the Belgian Royal Navy with a passion to explore the Antarctic. In 1896, he purchased a whaling ship and after an extensive refit, named it the Belgica. On August 16, 1897, he set sail from Antwerp, with the first multinational crew which included notable explores Roald Amundsen, Frederick Cook and Emil Racovita on an expedition to the Antarctic. He was also the first to spend 380 days there during winter, charting and naming several islands during some 20 separate landings in the Antarctic Circle. The expedition returned to Antwerp on November 5, 1899.
Explorer. Born in in Hasselt, Belgium, he was an engineer officer in the Belgian Royal Navy with a passion to explore the Antarctic. In 1896, he purchased a whaling ship and after an extensive refit, named it the Belgica. On August 16, 1897, he set sail from Antwerp, with the first multinational crew which included notable explores Roald Amundsen, Frederick Cook and Emil Racovita on an expedition to the Antarctic. He was also the first to spend 380 days there during winter, charting and naming several islands during some 20 separate landings in the Antarctic Circle. The expedition returned to Antwerp on November 5, 1899.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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