The third period is from 1895 to date. In this period, while other
valuable work was being done,--as Amundsen’s navigation of the
Northwest Passage, Sverdrup’s extensive discoveries in the North
American archipelago, Erichsen’s completion of the last gap in the
north Greenland coast line,--three men, Nansen, Abruzzi, and Peary,
each having for his object the attainment of the North Pole, pushed in
succession far beyond the farthest of their predecessors, penetrating
the inmost regions of the north, and the last named attaining the Pole
which had been the prize of centuries.
Briefly summarized, from 1526 to 1882 Great Britain held the palm of
nearest approach to the Pole, slowly pushing the record up till Markham
reached 83° 20´ north latitude. Then the lead came to the United States
with Lockwood and Brainard’s 83° 24´. In 1895 Norway went to the front
in a great leap in Nansen’s 86° 14´, and in 1900 Italy grasped the
blue ribbon with Abruzzi’s 86° 33´. In 1906 the United States took the
lead again with Peary’s 87° 6´, and finally closed the record with his
attainment of the Pole on April 6 and 7, 1909.