Matthew Henson was an American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on his expedition to reach the North Pole. He was born in Maryland in 1866 and began working as a cabin boy on a ship at a young age. He later became a member of the Peary Arctic Club and participated in several expeditions to the Arctic. In 1909, he was part of the team that finally reached the North Pole, becoming the first African-American to do so. Henson was a skilled navigator and hunter and played a vital role in the success of many Arctic expeditions. He died in New York City in 1955.