William Henry Gilder facts for kids

William Henry Gilder (born August 16, 1838 – died February 5, 1900) was an American soldier, journalist, explorer, and writer. He was known for his exciting journeys to the Arctic and other faraway places.

Early Life and Military Service

William Henry Gilder was born in Philadelphia. His father was also named William Henry Gilder and was a clergyman.

When the American Civil War began, young Gilder joined the army. He first served with the 5th New York Infantry, a group called Duryée's Zouaves. Later, he moved to the 40th New York regiment. He rose through the ranks and became a Captain and then a Major. During much of the war, he worked for General Thomas W. Egan.

Adventures as an Explorer and Journalist

After the war, Gilder became a journalist. From 1871 to 1877, he was a managing editor for the Newark Register newspaper.

Arctic Expeditions

William Henry Gilder loved adventure, especially exploring cold, icy places.

• Searching for Franklin: From 1878 to 1880, he was second-in-command on an expedition led by Frederick Schwatka. They went to King William Island in the Arctic to search for clues and items left behind by the lost explorer Sir John Franklin. This trip involved the longest sledge journey ever recorded at that time, covering an amazing 3,251 miles!
• The De Long Expedition: Gilder also joined the George W. De Long expedition on a ship called the Rodgers. After the ship was burned on the western shore of the Bering Strait, Gilder had to make a very long and difficult journey. In the middle of winter, he traveled nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) across Siberia. His mission was to send a telegraph message to the government, telling them about the ship's disaster. He later helped search for De Long in the Lena River delta.

Reporting from Around the World

Gilder was also a war correspondent, which means he reported on wars and conflicts for newspapers.

• In 1883, he was in Tonkin (which is now part of Vietnam) reporting on the conflict between the French and the Annamese people.
• In 1884, he visited Spain after a series of earthquakes.

Throughout his expeditions and travels, he worked as a correspondent for the New York Herald newspaper, sending back exciting stories.

Books by William Henry Gilder

William Henry Gilder wrote two books about his adventures:

• Schwatka's Search: Sledging in the Arctic in Quest of the Franklin Records (published in 1881)
• Ice-Pack and Tundra (published in 1883)

Family

William Henry Gilder had several siblings who were also well-known. His brothers and sisters included Richard Watson Gilder, Jeannette Leonard Gilder, and Joseph Benson Gilder.