A degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in 1874 set the trajectory for Salomon August Andrée, a Swedish physicist who eventually pivoted from patent office work toward the risky frontier of aeronautics. His fascination with flight, ignited by a meeting with an American balloonist, led him to organize a high-profile, ill-fated attempt to reach the North Pole.
Professional Beginnings
Born in 1854 in Gränna, Andrée moved to Stockholm to study at the Royal Institute of Technology. After graduation, a pivotal 1876 trip to the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia introduced him to balloon technology. Back in Sweden, his initial efforts in the machine shop industry failed, leading him to take a role at the Swedish patent office in 1885. He also served as a liberal member of the Stockholm city council from 1891 to 1894, while contributing scientific articles on topics such as heat conduction and air electricity.
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Andrée sought to reach the Geographic North Pole using the hydrogen balloon Örnen. With funding from donors including King Oscar II and Alfred Nobel, he garnered significant national attention. The project began at Danes Island in the Svalbard archipelago. A launch attempt in 1896 failed due to unfavorable winds, but on 11 July 1897, Andrée successfully launched the balloon alongside his companions, Knut Frænkel and Nils Strindberg.
Expedition Failure
The flight lasted 65 hours, but immediately upon takeoff, the gondola lost two of its three essential drag ropes, compromising its steering capabilities. Within ten hours, a severe storm and icing conditions hindered the balloon's progress. Recognizing the objective was unreachable, the trio landed on the pack ice. Equipped with a boat and three sleds, they spent two months attempting to trek across the ice toward Franz Josef Land and later northern Svalbard before finally arriving at Kvitøya in early October.
End of the Journey
The explorers died on Kvitøya within two weeks of their arrival. While modern analysis suggests Nils Strindberg died first, the causes remained a subject of investigation for decades. Beyond exhaustion and the harsh environment, historical analysis published in the 1952 book The Dead on White Island highlights evidence of trichinosis, likely contracted from consuming undercooked polar bear meat during their trek, which caused the recurring digestive issues noted in their final diary entries.
Fast facts
- Born: 1854, Gränna, Sweden
- Died: 1897, Kvitøya
- Education: Royal Institute of Technology
- Occupation: Engineer and Polar Explorer
- Balloon Name: Örnen
- Launch Date: 11 July 1897
- Flight Duration: 65 hours
Questions readers ask
What was the official cause of the expedition's failure?
The mission was hampered by the loss of steering equipment upon takeoff, followed by severe weather that caused icing on the balloon, forcing an emergency descent onto the pack ice.
Did the crew survive the initial balloon landing?
Yes, they landed in a controlled manner and survived for over two months on the ice before reaching Kvitøya, where they eventually perished.
Achievements
- Educated at Royal Institute of Technology
- Worked as explorer, engineer and balloonist
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