The New Student's Reference Work/Cook, Frederick Albert
Cook, Frederick Albert, American physician and explorer, was born at Calicoon Depot, Sullivan Co., New York, June 10 1865. He was graduated from the University of New York in 1890, and received his medical degree from the same institution. He was surgeon of the Peary Arctic expedition, in 1891-2, and surgeon of the Belgium Antarctic expedition 1897-9. In 1903-6 he explored the mountain regions of Alaska and claimed to have ascended Mt. McKinley. He is the author of Through the First Antarctic Night and To the Top of the Continent. In July, 1907, he sailed north in a fishing schooner, reaching Smith Sound where he wintered. On Feb. 19, 1908, he started with a sledge train for the pole. In Sept., 1909, he returned to civilization and announced that on Apr. 21, 1908, he had reached the north pole, where he spent two days in taking observations. His proofs, submitted to scientists of Copenhagen University, did not stand the test of examination and his claim was discredited. See Polar Explorations.