Editing Robert Peary (section)

==Initial Arctic expeditions==
Peary made his first expedition to the [[Arctic]] in 1886, intending to cross Greenland by [[dog sled]], taking the first of his own suggested paths. He was given six months' leave from the Navy, and he received $500 from his mother to book passage north and buy supplies. He sailed on a [[whaler]] to Greenland, arriving in [[Qeqertarsuaq|Godhavn]] on June 6, 1886.<ref name=Mills510/> Peary wanted to make a solo trek, but [[Christian Maigaard]], a young Danish official, convinced him he would die if he went out alone. Maigaard and Peary set off together and traveled nearly {{convert|100|mi|abbr=on}} due east before turning back because they were short on food. This was the second-farthest penetration of Greenland's ice sheet at the time. Peary returned home knowing more of what was required for long-distance ice trekking.<ref name=Mills511>Mills 2003, p.&nbsp;511.</ref>

[[File:Matthew Henson 1910.jpg|thumb|upright|alt= Photograph of Matthew Henson dressed in polar gear | [[Matthew Henson]], Peary's assistant, in 1910]]
Back in Washington attending with the US Navy, in November 1887 Peary was ordered to survey likely routes for a proposed Nicaragua Canal. To complete his tropical outfit he needed a sun hat. He went to a men's clothing store where he met 21-year-old [[Matthew Henson]], a black man working as a sales clerk. Learning that Henson had six years of seagoing experience as a [[cabin boy]], Peary immediately hired him as a personal [[valet]].<ref name=Nuttall855>Nuttall 2012, p.&nbsp;855–856.</ref>

On assignment in the jungles of Nicaragua, Peary told Henson of his dream of Arctic exploration. Henson accompanied Peary on every one of his subsequent Arctic expeditions, becoming his field assistant and "first man", a critical member of his team.<ref name=Mills511/><ref name=Nuttall855/>