Dr Frederick Albert Cook, who claimed that he reached the North Pole on April 21, 1908 - one year before Robert Peary.

Controversy surrounds the idea of whether he actually reached the North Pole or not. Robert Peary originally supported Cook's claim and then, after reaching the North Pole himself, tried to discredit Cook. It seems that Peary's campaign worked - today we say that Robert Peary was the first (white) man to reach the North Pole.

In this photo, Dr. Frederick Cook is in the center with a garland of flowers around his neck.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress