Alfred Harrison facts for kids

Alfred Henry Harrison (born in 1865, died in 1933) was an English explorer. He traveled to many places, including the Canadian Rockies and the Arctic. He was known for his detailed maps and for living with the Inuit people.

Early Adventures of Alfred Harrison

Alfred Henry Harrison was born in 1865 in Islington, England. He went to a school called Stonyhurst College. His family was quite well-known. His grandfather, Daniel Harrison, was involved with the railway in Enfield.

A sad event happened in 1885. Alfred's father died while trying to save his son. This happened during a ship collision off the coast of Cornwall. After this, when Alfred turned 21 in 1886, he sold some of his family's property.

Alfred loved exploring from a young age. His first big trip was to the Canadian Rockies in 1889. He went back there a few years later. He also traveled to Northern Africa. Another trip took him to Slave Lake in Canada, where he went hunting. Because of his adventurous spirit, he became a member of the Royal Geographical Society in 1904.

Exploring the Canadian Arctic (1905–1907)

Harrison returned to Canada for a special journey called the British Exploring Expedition. This trip was his own idea, and he hoped to reach the North Pole. Hubert Darrell joined him as an assistant.

Their journey to the Canadian Arctic started in Quebec. They traveled by train to Edmonton. From there, they went by wagon to Athabasca Landing. They reached the Great Slave Lake by river. A steamer then pulled their boat across the lake. In the Northwest Territories, they traveled down the Mackenzie River towards the ocean. They reached the Arctic Red River in October 1905.

While Harrison was away on shorter trips, his assistant, Darrell, left the expedition. Harrison then used Herschel Island as his base to explore the Beaufort Sea. He spent a lot of time mapping the Mackenzie delta, especially the Husky Lakes area, where he stayed for the winter.

Harrison's exploration ended early in 1907. He had to leave Canada because a family member became ill. In 1909, he suggested that future polar expeditions should use sledges. He believed this was better than relying on ships in the icy Arctic.

Harrison's Book and Discoveries

• In Search of a Polar Continent, 1905–1907 (1908)

Harrison spent 18 months living with the Inuit people during his expedition. His book shares many interesting details about their customs and way of life. It also includes his detailed maps of the Mackenzie delta, with smaller maps of Baillie Island and Herschel Island.

People who reviewed his book noted his original plan. He wanted to reach Banks Island on a whaling ship. Then, he planned to travel west across the sea ice and explore new, unknown areas.

Family Life

In 1890, Harrison married Josephine Waterton. She was the daughter of Edmund Waterton. After Harrison passed away, Josephine married Charles Adrian Joseph Langdale in 1934.