The Open Polar Sea - 1869

Shot 4/28/2024

keyword: 19thcentury

8/29/24

Isaac Israel Hayes, an American Arctic explorer and physician, wrote "The Open Polar Sea: A Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery towards the North Pole, in the Schooner United States," which was published in 1867[1]. This book recounts Hayes' Arctic expedition from 1860 to 1861, during which he led a team of 20 men in search of the fabled Open Polar Sea[1].

The Expedition

Hayes and his crew departed in June 1860 aboard the schooner "United States" with the ultimate goal of reaching the North Pole[1]. The expedition's route took them through Greenland, Baffin Bay, Smith Sound, and Ellesmere Island[1]. Along the way, Hayes recruited several Eskimos to join the party as hunters, hoping to avoid the food shortages that had plagued previous Arctic expeditions[1].

The Open Polar Sea Myth

The concept of an Open Polar Sea was one of the most prevalent myths in 19th-century Arctic exploration[2]. Many explorers of the time believed in the existence of an ice-free stretch of water near the North Pole[2]. Hayes' expedition was partly motivated by this belief, and his book contributes to the literature surrounding this captivating idea.

Content and Style

"The Open Polar Sea" was written for a general audience rather than for scientific purposes[3]. It provides an accessible and entertaining account of Hayes' voyage, filled with descriptions of the perils and challenges faced by the expedition[3][5]. The narrative style makes it a gripping memoir that offers readers a vivid glimpse into the world of Arctic exploration during the mid-19th century.

Scientific Controversy

While Hayes claimed to have reached 81°35' north latitude during the expedition, subsequent researchers have questioned the accuracy of this measurement[1]. It is now believed that the farthest point reached by Hayes and his team was actually Cape Collinson, just shy of 80° north latitude[1]. This discrepancy has led to some debate about the expedition's achievements.

Despite the controversies surrounding some of its claims, "The Open Polar Sea" remains an important work in the canon of Arctic exploration literature. It offers valuable insights into the challenges, beliefs, and aspirations of 19th-century polar explorers, as well as a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment in the history of Arctic exploration.

Isaac Israel Hayes

Isaac Israel Hayes was an American Arctic explorer, physician, and politician born on March 5, 1832, in Chester County, Pennsylvania[1][2]. He attended the Westtown School, a Quaker preparatory academy, and later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School[1]. Hayes gained fame for his Arctic explorations, participating in the Second Grinnell Expedition from 1853 to 1855 as a ship's surgeon[1][2]. During this expedition, he helped map approximately 200 miles of uncharted coastline in the Arctic Circle[1].

In 1860, Hayes led his own Arctic expedition aboard the schooner "United States," seeking to reach the North Pole and prove the existence of an Open Polar Sea[1][3]. He published an account of this journey in his 1867 book "The Open Polar Sea: A Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery towards the North Pole, in the Schooner United States"[2]. Although Hayes claimed to have reached 81°35' north latitude, this assertion was later questioned by researchers[3].

During the American Civil War, Hayes served as a surgeon in the Union Army and was appointed commanding officer at Satterlee General Hospital in Philadelphia[1][2]. After the war, he pursued a career in politics, being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1876[1]. Hayes continued to write and lecture about his Arctic experiences, becoming "the most prolific lecturer and writer on the Arctic in the nineteenth century," according to biographer Douglas Wamsley[2]. He passed away on December 17, 1881, in New York City at the age of 49[1][2].

Source: Perplexity.ai

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