Hans Hendrik
Encyclopedia
Hans Hendrik, also known as Hans Christian, native name Suersaq (c.
1834 – 11 August 1889), was a Greenland
ic Arctic traveller and interpreter, born in the southern settlement of Fiskernaes
.
to search for the lost Franklin expedition. He established his worth in the winter of 1854, when participating in a search for four of the men who were lying frozen and disabled somewhere northwest of the ship, which was beset in the ice in Rensellaer Bay. Hendrik located their sledge track, which brought the rescue party to the men. He also assisted with communication with the local Inuit
, and was instrumental in hunting efforts, including tracking and finding a wounded caribou in February 1855 when the men were beginning to starve and show signs of scurvy. It was due to Henrik's ability and effort that the important sledging journey to Cape Constitution was completed. For these efforts, Hendrik's agreed upon salary was two barrels of flour and fifty-two pounds of salt pork.
After the Grinnell Expedition, Hendrik returned to Qeqertarsuatsiaat
, in western Greenland
, where he married. In a report submitted by Captain Francis Leopold McClintock
on September 21, 1859 near the conclusion of his own expedition
in search of Franklin, it was reported by the Inut near Cape York that Hans was residing at 'Whale Sound' .
' American expedition of 1860-1861. At the end of August 1860, Hayes touched at Cape York and picked up Hans, his wife, and child. On December 21, Hans and Sonntag began their ice journey, from which Sonntag did not return, after which Hans eventually reached an Inuit settlement, saving his own life. The ship reached to Upernavik on August 15, 1861, near which Hendrik and his small family would remain for the next three years. Following that, they returned to Fiskernaes.
Hendrik's third journey, aboard the Polaris (1871-1873), was as part of the American expedition led by Charles Francis Hall under Captain Buddington. Hans joined the voyage, along with his wife and four children (Augustina, Tobias, Sophia, and Charlie Polaris). Hall died during the voyage of apoplexy on November 8, 1871, and the ship was run ashore at Smith's Sound and wrecked after difficulties in the ice. The entire crew was not rescued until April 1873. Following this journey, Hendrik made a trip to America, including visits to Washington D.C. and New York, before returning home to Fiskernaes.
Hendrik's last sea voyage was under George Strong Nares (Alert and Discovery) in the British expedition of 1875-1876. Hendrik presumably joined the crew of the Alert at Smith's Sound before proceeding to the northernmost reaches of Greenland. The expedition encountered problems with pack ice and scurvy, spending one winter locked in the ice. Hendrik's hunting and handling of dogsleds contributed both to the exploration and the survival and ultimate rescue of the most of the crew.
Hendrik retired from expedition support and worked as boatswain and laborer at the Greenland settlements. His arctic journeys made him wealthy by the standards of his community.
is named after him.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1834 – 11 August 1889), was a Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
ic Arctic traveller and interpreter, born in the southern settlement of Fiskernaes
Qeqertarsuatsiaat
Qeqertarsuatsiaat is a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality, in southwestern Greenland, located on an island off the shores of Labrador Sea. Its population is 235 as of 2010. The Greenlandic name of the town means 'the quite large island'.- History :...
.
Supporting the Kane Expedition
Hendrik was hired by the American explorer Elisha Kent Kane for the 1853-55 Second Grinnell ExpeditionSecond Grinnell Expedition
The Second Grinnell Expedition of 1853 was an American effort, financed by Henry Grinnell, to determine the fate of the Franklin's lost expedition. Led by Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, the team explored areas northwest of Greenland, now called Grinnell Land...
to search for the lost Franklin expedition. He established his worth in the winter of 1854, when participating in a search for four of the men who were lying frozen and disabled somewhere northwest of the ship, which was beset in the ice in Rensellaer Bay. Hendrik located their sledge track, which brought the rescue party to the men. He also assisted with communication with the local Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, and was instrumental in hunting efforts, including tracking and finding a wounded caribou in February 1855 when the men were beginning to starve and show signs of scurvy. It was due to Henrik's ability and effort that the important sledging journey to Cape Constitution was completed. For these efforts, Hendrik's agreed upon salary was two barrels of flour and fifty-two pounds of salt pork.
After the Grinnell Expedition, Hendrik returned to Qeqertarsuatsiaat
Qeqertarsuatsiaat
Qeqertarsuatsiaat is a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality, in southwestern Greenland, located on an island off the shores of Labrador Sea. Its population is 235 as of 2010. The Greenlandic name of the town means 'the quite large island'.- History :...
, in western Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, where he married. In a report submitted by Captain Francis Leopold McClintock
Francis Leopold McClintock
Admiral Sir Francis Leopold McClintock or Francis Leopold M'Clintock KCB, FRS was an Irish explorer in the British Royal Navy who is known for his discoveries in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.-Biography:...
on September 21, 1859 near the conclusion of his own expedition
McClintock Arctic Expedition
The McClintock Arctic Expedition of 1857 was a British effort to locate the last remains of the lost Franklin Arctic Expedition. Led by captain Francis Leopold McClintock aboard the steam yacht Fox, the expedition spent two years in the region and ultimately returned with the only written message...
in search of Franklin, it was reported by the Inut near Cape York that Hans was residing at 'Whale Sound' .
Later Expedition Support
Hendrik made his second northern voyage aboard the United States under Isaac Israel HayesIsaac Israel Hayes
Isaac Israel Hayes was an Arctic explorer and physician.Hayes was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania. After completing his medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Hayes signed on as ship's surgeon for an 1853-5 expedition led by Elisha Kent Kane to search for John Franklin...
' American expedition of 1860-1861. At the end of August 1860, Hayes touched at Cape York and picked up Hans, his wife, and child. On December 21, Hans and Sonntag began their ice journey, from which Sonntag did not return, after which Hans eventually reached an Inuit settlement, saving his own life. The ship reached to Upernavik on August 15, 1861, near which Hendrik and his small family would remain for the next three years. Following that, they returned to Fiskernaes.
Hendrik's third journey, aboard the Polaris (1871-1873), was as part of the American expedition led by Charles Francis Hall under Captain Buddington. Hans joined the voyage, along with his wife and four children (Augustina, Tobias, Sophia, and Charlie Polaris). Hall died during the voyage of apoplexy on November 8, 1871, and the ship was run ashore at Smith's Sound and wrecked after difficulties in the ice. The entire crew was not rescued until April 1873. Following this journey, Hendrik made a trip to America, including visits to Washington D.C. and New York, before returning home to Fiskernaes.
Hendrik's last sea voyage was under George Strong Nares (Alert and Discovery) in the British expedition of 1875-1876. Hendrik presumably joined the crew of the Alert at Smith's Sound before proceeding to the northernmost reaches of Greenland. The expedition encountered problems with pack ice and scurvy, spending one winter locked in the ice. Hendrik's hunting and handling of dogsleds contributed both to the exploration and the survival and ultimate rescue of the most of the crew.
Hendrik retired from expedition support and worked as boatswain and laborer at the Greenland settlements. His arctic journeys made him wealthy by the standards of his community.
Legacy
He is the first Inuk to publish an account of his Arctic explorations. Hans IslandHans Island
Hans Island is a small, uninhabited barren knoll measuring , located in the centre of the Kennedy Channel of Nares Strait—the strait that separates Ellesmere Island from northern Greenland and connects Baffin Bay with the Lincoln Sea...
is named after him.
Further reading
- Memoirs of Hans Hendrik, the Arctic traveller, serving under Kane, Hayes, Hall and Nares, 1853–1876, by himself — translated by Henry Rink, Trübner & Co, London, 1878.