Roald Amundsen, 1911 (photo)

Roald Amundsen. Norwegian polar explorer. 1872-1928. The South Pole Expedition 19101912. After sailing through the Northwest Passage with Gjøa in 19031906, Amundsen planned an expedition to the North Pole. He was able to borrow Nansen's "Fram", and equipped it for a North Pole expedition. But after receiving the news that Robert Peary had reached the Pole Point, he chose to bet on the South Pole. Amundsen feared that Nansen would take back "Fram" if he found out about the changed plans, and therefore only told his brother and the captain of "Fram", Thorvald Nilsen, that the South Pole was the target. Only when "Fram" arrived in Madeira did Amundsen tell the rest of the crew about the plans. All chose to accompany Amundsen to Antarctica.