Explorer Robert Peary has long been credited with being the first person to reach the North Pole. Evidence suggests, however, that his former friend, Frederick Cook, might have beat Peary to the prize.
Cook claimed that he reached the North Pole in 1908, a year before Peary. People didn’t believe Cook’s story after Edward Barrill, a man who claimed to have climbed a mountain with him, said that they lied about that climb. A newspaper later reported that Barrill was paid to make the statement but the damage was done and Peary’s claims became official history.
More recent investigations, however, suggest that Peary did not reach the actual North Pole. Peary was the only person in his expedition who could use the navigational tools so there
Cook claimed that he reached the North Pole in 1908, a year before Peary. People didn’t believe Cook’s story after Edward Barrill, a man who claimed to have climbed a mountain with him, said that they lied about that climb. A newspaper later reported that Barrill was paid to make the statement but the damage was done and Peary’s claims became official history.
More recent investigations, however, suggest that Peary did not reach the actual North Pole. Peary was the only person in his expedition who could use the navigational tools so there