May 6th

1856 Robert Edwin Peary US, arctic explorer was born.

In 1908, Peary set out on his last quest for the North Pole. From Ellesmere Island, accompanied by Matthew Henson and four Eskimos, he made a final dash for the pole, which he claimed to have reached on Apr. 6, 1909. He announced that he had achieved his goal, but on his return he learned of the prior claim of Dr. Frederick A. Cook, who had been ship’s surgeon on Peary’s expedition of 1891–92. An extremely bitter controversy followed. Although Cook fought to the end of his life, not without some support, to substantiate his claim, Congress recognized Peary’s achievement and offered him its thanks in 1911, the year in which he retired from the navy with the rank of rear admiral. Nevertheless, it remains questionable as to whether Peary reached the exact location of the North Pole. 

It also remains questionable that he froze his nads off. However, his voice was much higher when he returned.