Adolphus Greely
A polar explorer who survived a disastrous Arctic expedition against all odds, later redeeming his name as a pioneering army general who championed new technology.
1844–1935 (age 91)·American polar explorer and army general·Birthday: March 27
Biography
Adolphus Greely's life is a stark tale of 19th-century ambition, catastrophe, and improbable redemption. A Union Army signal officer hungry for glory, he volunteered to lead the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, a daring push to establish a northern research station. For two years, his team collected invaluable scientific data, but when relief ships failed to reach them, they were forced into a desperate retreat. What followed was a nightmare of starvation, mutiny, and death on Cape Sabine, where only Greely and six others were found alive amidst scenes of cannibalism. He returned to the United States a controversial figure, initially blamed for the tragedy. With sheer force of will, he rebuilt his career in the Army Signal Corps, becoming a major general and a forward-thinking advocate for military telegraphy and wireless communication. He oversaw the construction of thousands of miles of telegraph lines, helped connect Alaska, and even advocated for what would become the Interstate Highway System. From the frozen hell of the Arctic, Greely remade himself into a architect of American infrastructure, earning the Medal of Honor not for his exploration, but for his lifetime of military service.
#1 When Adolphus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1844
Adolphus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1844Born
1849Started school
1857Became a teenager
1860Could drive
1862Could vote
President: Abraham Lincoln
1865Turned 21
President: Andrew Johnson
1874Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1884Turned 40
President: Chester A. Arthur
1894Turned 50
President: Grover Cleveland
1904Turned 60
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Turned 70
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Turned 80
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1935Died at 91
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
Key Achievements
- Led the ill-fated Lady Franklin Bay Expedition (1881-1884) which set a new northern latitude record and gathered crucial scientific data.
- Awarded the Medal of Honor in 1935 for his lifetime of service, notably his work in military communications.
- As Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army, he oversaw the construction of over 25,000 miles of telegraph and telephone lines.
- Played a key role in planning and executing the first successful submarine telegraph cable connection between the US and Alaska.
- Was a founding member of the National Geographic Society and served as its president for 12 years.
Did You Know?
He was the last surviving Civil War general, having enlisted as a private at age 17 and fought in over 20 battles.
Of the 25 men who began the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, only Greely and six others survived the ordeal.
He received the Medal of Honor on his 91st birthday, making him the oldest recipient at the time.
Greely helped organize relief efforts during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake using the Army's telegraph network.
Fort Greely in Alaska is named in his honor.
“Discipline is the soul of an army.”
