Salomon August Andrée

Salomon August Andrée was born on October 18, 1854, in Gränna, Småland. Educated in mechanical engineering at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, he served as chief examiner at the Swedish Patent Office and pioneered hot-air and hydrogen ballooning.

Backed by King Oscar II and Alfred Nobel, Andrée attempted the first aerial crossing of the North Pole in the hydrogen balloon Örnen (The Eagle) with Nils Strindberg and Knut Frænkel. Departing Svalbard on July 11, 1897, the balloon iced over and was forced down onto the pack ice after 65 hours. The three explorers embarked on a heroic three-month trek across drifting ice floes toward Svalbard, perishing on desolate Kvitøya in October 1897. Their remains and intact photographic films were miraculously discovered in 1930, captivating the world.