| Explorer, Scientist, Diplomat and Humanist.
Nansen is best known for his exploration of the Arctic, the very first crossing of Greenland and his attempt to drift accross the North Pole with the ship Fram. But Nansen was more than an explorer. He played a key part in the successful dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway in 1905, and served as Norway's first ambassador to the United Kingdom. Later he made major contributions to the foundation of the science of physical oceanography, and after World War I he worked extensively with the repatriation of prisoners of war and refugees, and with famine relief. This work was carried out both under the auspices of the League of Nations and on Nansen's own initiative. For his humanitarian efforts he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1922. |
