Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) is considered the godfather of all modern polar explorers.  In 1888 (at age 26), he became the first person to successfully cross Greenland from coast to coast.  At age 31 he organized and led an expedition to the North Pole; although he and his crew ultimately did not reach the Pole, they came closer than anyone had come before, in what has been described by one historian as “the greatest human exploit of the Nineteenth Century.” Timothy Boyce, editor of the World War II concentration camp diary written by Fridtjof’s son Odd Nansen, will describe who Nansen was, how and why he organized his polar explorations, focusing on the incredible challenges his voyages faced, and his indomitable will to overcome all obstacles. This lecture will also touch upon Nansen’s Post-explorer career as statesman and humanitarian, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922.  

About the Speaker:

Timothy Boyce practiced law for many years, most recently serving as the Managing Partner of the Charlotte, NC office of Dechert LLP, a global law firm. He holds an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Finance, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He received a B.S. from Georgetown University.  Tim's articles have appeared in The Quarterly Journal of Military History, World War II Magazine, The Scandinavian Review and Viking Magazine.  Tim, who lives in Tryon, NC, retired in 2014 to devote full time to writing and speaking. 

For additional information, visit: www.timothyjboyce.com.