Robert Peary

1856–1920 (age 64)

Explorer

Biography

Robert Peary spent a lifetime charting the Arctic, melding his Navy commissions with a relentless drive to understand polar regions and improve navigation in frigid seas. He surveyed coastlines, studied ice conditions, and led expeditions that brought unprecedented detail to America's knowledge of the formidable North.

Best known for leading the 1909 expedition long credited with reaching the North Pole, he coupled that achievement with efforts to advance polar maritime operations and earned enduring respect for his dedication to exploration and service, resting now at Arlington National Cemetery.

Did you know Robert Peary?

Help us tell their story. Share a memory, upload a gravestone photo, or correct any details.

Also buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Joseph A. Mower
1827–1870 (age 43)
Arlington National Cemetery
Joseph A. Mower (1827-1870) was a Woodstock resident and military officer buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
John Aaron Rawlins
1831–1869 (age 38)
Arlington National Cemetery
John Aaron Rawlins was a Union general and chief of staff to General Ulysses S. Grant.
John Rodgers Meigs
1841–1864 (age 23)
Arlington National Cemetery
John Rodgers Meigs was a Union Army officer killed in action during the Civil War at age 23.
Stephen Cassin
1783–1857 (age 74)
Arlington National Cemetery
Stephen Cassin was a United States Navy officer who lived from 1783 to 1857.
Jonathan Letterman
1824–1872 (age 48)
Arlington National Cemetery
Jonathan Letterman (1824-1872) was a Canonsburg-born physician who pioneered battlefield medical care and was buried at ...
Lovell Rousseau
1818–1869 (age 51)
Arlington National Cemetery
Lovell Rousseau was an American military officer and congressman who served in the Civil War.

Other notable explorers

Meriwether Lewis
1774–1809 (age 35)
Pioneer Cemetery
Meriwether Lewis was an Albemarle County native and explorer who lived from 1774 to 1809.