Matthew Henson

The duties of being a dishwasher, cabin boy, night watchman, dockworker, servant and chain man were not foreign to the self-assured Henson. Born of free parents in Maryland, Henson learned early in life to be self-supporting. A chance meeting with Lt. Robert Peary accelerated Henson's quest for adventure. As Peary's servant, Henson journeyed to Nicaragua in 1867 in search of a route to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Henson did such a remarkable job that he was invited to explore the Far North; he struggled for 18 years not only to conquer the elements of the adverse Arctic but to prove himself an inventive genius to others for his many feats. If there were ever an example of turning a negative into a positive, this historical account reflects it. Fast-paced and readable, this biography in the Black Americans of Achievement series includes an introduction by Coretta Scott King and a reading list, providing an extremely useful overview for readers. All ages. (Apr.)