North Pole discovery credit given late Published Feb. 15, 2011 By Rex Jones 21st Space Wing Equal Opportunity Office director PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Did you know that an African-American, along with Read Adm. Robert E. Peary, discovered the North Pole? His name was Matthew Henson and he was born on a farm in Nanjemoy, Md., on Aug. 8, 1866. He was still a child when his parents Lemuel and Caroline died, and at the age of 12 he went to sea as a cabin boy on a merchant ship. He sailed around the world for the next several years, educating himself and becoming a skilled navigator. Mr. Henson met Admiral Peary in November 1887 and joined him on an expedition to Nicaragua, with four other people that Admiral Peary chose. Impressed with Henson's seamanship, Admiral Peary recruited him as a colleague. For years they made many trips together, including Arctic voyages in which Mr. Henson traded with the Inuit and mastered their language, built sleds, and trained dog teams. In 1909, Admiral Peary mounted his eighth attempt to reach the North Pole, selecting Mr. Henson to be one of the team of six who would make the final run to the pole. Before the goal was reached, Admiral Peary could no longer continue on foot and rode in a dog sled. Various accounts say he was ill, exhausted, or had frozen toes. In any case, he sent Mr. Henson ahead as a scout. In a newspaper interview Mr. Henson said: "I was in the lead that had overshot the mark a couple of miles. We went back then and I could see that my footprints were the first at the spot." Mr. Henson then proceeded to plant the American flag. Although Admiral Peary received many honors, Mr. Henson was largely ignored and spent most of the next 30 years working as a clerk in a federal customs house in New York. But, in 1944 Congress awarded him a duplicate of the silver medal given to Admiral Peary. Presidents Truman and Eisenhower both honored him before he died in 1955. In reviewing the history of our nation, this oversight is not unusual when it relates to African-Americans and their contributions to our great country. Chances are, you have heard of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison; however, have you ever heard of these inventors? Sarah Boone: Created a device which was the predecessor to the modern ironing boards. Benjamin Bradley: Created a steam engine powerful enough to drive steam-powered warships. Jack Johnson: The first Black heavyweight boxing champion, he created a wrench for automotive maintenance. Garrett Morgan: A prolific inventor, he is renowned for his creations, including a hair-straightener, the gas mask and the automatic traffic signal. Considered by many to be one of the most impactful inventors of all time Lonnie Johnson: A rocket scientist, he created one of the favorite toys of the 1990s - the "Super Soaker." Elijah McCoy: Created an automatic lubricating cup which provided oil to moving trains. William Purvis: Invented a fountain pen, a bag fastener, a hand stamp and an electric railway device. C. J. Walker: Created and marketed Black hair care products and became so successful that she was the first Black female millionaire. Created jobs for more than 1,000 women and was a mentor to entrepreneurs around the world. Daniel Williams: Created the method for and accomplished the first successful open heart surgery Richard Spikes: Invented numerous important devices, from automobile directional signals to an automatic gear shift The National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, recently included these names, and many more, into their prestigious ranks. No doubt, these inventors serve as a foundation for numerous ideas that have contributed to the comfort and advancement of humankind.