Born: 10 October 1861 · Died: 13 May 1930 · Age at death: 68
How old was Fridtjof Nansen when he died?
Fridtjof Nansen died aged 68. He was born on 10 October 1861 and died on 13 May 1930.
Norwegian explorer who crossed Greenland and drifted in the Arctic ice, then won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping refugees
Did you know?He created the Nansen passport, which enabled thousands of stateless people and refugees to travel across borders after the First World War.
Quick facts
Date of birth10 October 1861
Date of death13 May 1930
Age at death68
Cause of deathMyocardial infarction
NationalityNorwegian
BirthplaceVestre Aker, Norway
Occupationzoologist, polar explorer, diplomat
Editor's Take:
Fridtjof Nansen was a polar explorer who became a hero of humanity. In 1888 he led the first crossing of Greenland's ice cap on skis. He then let his ship Fram freeze into the Arctic ice and drift toward the North Pole. Setting off on skis, he reached a record northerly point in 1895. He was also a pioneering scientist of the oceans. After the First World War he led the League of Nations' work for refugees and prisoners. His "Nansen passport" gave stateless people papers. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922.
Key Milestones
1888: Greenland – crossing
1893: Fram – expedition
1895: Farthest north – record
1921: Refugees – League commissioner
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (Norwegian:; 10 October 1861 – 13 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, a scientist, a diplomat, a humanitarian, and the co-founder of the Fatherland League.