Kristian Kristiansen (explorer)

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Kristian Kristiansen
Kristian Kristiansen (1890)
Born(1865-02-16)16 February 1865
Died30 June 1943(1943-06-30) (aged 78)
NationalityNorwegian
Known forGreenland expedition 1888

Kristian Kristiansen (16 February 1865 - 30 June 1943) was a Norwegian explorer who participated in the Greenland expedition of 1888 arranged by Fridtjof Nansen. This was the first documented crossing of Greenland.[1] [2][3]

Biography[edit]

Kristian Kristiansen was born on the Trana farm in Ogndal parish at Steinkjer in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. He first became acquainted with Otto Sverdrup after Sverdrup's father Ulrik bought the Trana farm in 1874. Kristiansen achieved notoriety as a cross-country skier when he, as a 13-year-old, came second in a competition for 16-year-olds.[4][5]

In 1888 both Otto Sverdrup and Kristian Kristiansen were selected by Fridtjof Nansen to attend the expedition across Greenland. Nansen took him on the recommendation of Sverdrup. The other participants were Oluf Christian Dietrichson, Samuel Balto and Ole Nilsen Ravna.[6][7][8][9][10]

Returning to Norway in 1889 was a tribute journey. Kristiansen received medals of merit from Norway, Sweden and Denmark. During the remainder of his life, Kristiansen lived and worked principally at Sneppen in the city center of Steinkjer. He spent most of his career employed by the steamship company, Indherreds Aktie-Dampskibsselskab, which was headquartered in Steinkjer.[11][12]

Portraits of the members of the Greenland Expedition: Ole Nielsen Ravna, Samuel Balto, Otto Sverdrup, Fridtjof Nansen, Oluf Christian Dietrichson and Kristian Kristiansen

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kristiansen, Kristian". steinkjerleksikonet.no. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Kristian Kristiansen (1865-1943)". Fram Museum. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  3. ^ "The First Crossing of Greenland (1888-1889)". Fram Museum. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. ^ Otto Sverdrup: aldri rådløs. Stenersens forlag. 1996. p. 34. ISBN 9788272011986.
  5. ^ "Trana øvre. Ogndal herad. Nord-Trøndelag". Matrikkelutkastet av 1950. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. ^ Nansen, Fridtjof (1961) [1890]. På ski over Grønland. Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co. p. 12.
  7. ^ "O.C. Dietrichson". Norsk Polar Historie. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Otto Sverdrup". Norsk Polar Historie. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Samuel Balto". Norsk Polar Historie. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Ole N. Ravna". Norsk Polar Historie. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Indherreds Aktie-Dampskibsselskab". steinkjerleksikonet.no. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Indherreds Aktie-Dampskibsselskab". lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved 1 May 2017.