Emil Bessels

The death of American explorer Charles Francis Hall during the 1871 Polaris expedition remains tethered to the medical care provided by Emil Bessels. A physician and scientist, Bessels participated in some of the most rigorous Arctic exploration efforts of the nineteenth century, eventually finding his career overshadowed by persistent questions regarding the circumstances of his commander’s final days.

Early Scientific Training

Born in 1847 in Heidelberg, Bessels pursued a diverse education that spanned zoology, entomology, and medicine. He attended the University of Stuttgart, Heidelberg University, and the University of Jena. His early professional focus led him to join the German North Polar expedition in 1869 at the recommendation of August Petermann. During this voyage, his team attempted to survey the waters surrounding Spitsbergen and Novaya Zemlya, where they performed hydrographical measurements despite challenging ice conditions.

Military Service and Arctic Exploration

Following his return to the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1870, Bessels enlisted in the Royal Prussian Army as a surgeon during the Franco-Prussian War. His work in field hospitals earned him a commendation from Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden. In 1871, he transitioned to the United States North Polar expedition, serving as ship’s physician and lead scientist under Charles Francis Hall. This voyage ended in failure and significant loss after the crew separated, though Bessels was eventually rescued and returned to the United States in 1873.

The Polaris Controversy

Bessels faced intense scrutiny during a naval board of inquiry regarding Hall's death. While official findings concluded that Hall perished from natural causes, later forensic examinations of exhumed remains in 1969 revealed lethal concentrations of arsenic under the explorer's nails. This discovery corroborated long-standing suspicions from Hall, who had refused Bessels' medical treatment during his final illness after fearing he was being poisoned.

Scientific Output and Later Years

Bessels spent his later years at the Smithsonian Institution attempting to document his findings. He successfully argued that Greenland was an island based on tidal data and the recovery of walnut driftwood. Although he authored the first volume of the expedition’s scientific results, titled Physical Observations, it was eventually suppressed due to inaccuracies. A 1885 fire destroyed his remaining manuscripts, including planned research on the Inuit. He later served on an expedition to the American northwestern coast aboard the USS Saranac, which terminated when the vessel wrecked in the Seymour Narrows. He published his account of the Polaris expedition in 1879.

Fast facts

• Born: 1847, Heidelberg
• Died: 1888, Stuttgart
• Citizenship: Grand Duchy of Baden
• Employers: Smithsonian Institution
• Education: University of Stuttgart, Heidelberg University, University of Jena
• Known for: Polaris expedition
• Religion: Judaism

Questions readers ask

Did Emil Bessels participate in expeditions other than the Polaris?

Yes, he participated in the 1869 German North Polar expedition and a 1875 expedition to the American northwestern coast on the USS Saranac.

What were the primary scientific contributions of Bessels?

He provided evidence that Greenland is an island and conducted various hydrographical and climatological observations during his Arctic travels.

Achievements

• Held posts at Smithsonian Institution
• Fields: medicine, entomology and zoology