Editing Robert Peary (section)

==Later life and death==
[[File:The Three Polar Stars, 1913 (8889621500).jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of Roald Amundsen, Ernest Shackleton and Peary | [[Roald Amundsen|Amundsen]], [[Ernest Shackleton|Shackleton]], and Peary, in January 1913]]
[[File:Peary daughter at grave.jpg|thumb|left|Edwin Denby and Peary's daughter at grave, [[Arlington National Cemetery]], April 6, 1922]]
Peary was promoted to the rank of captain in the Navy in October 1910.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/z-files/zb-files/zb-files-p/peary-robert-e.html | title=Robert Edwin Peary | publisher=[[Naval History and Heritage Command]]}}</ref> By his lobbying, Peary headed off a move among some U.S. Congressmen to have his claim to the pole evaluated by other explorers. Eventually recognized by Congress for "reaching" the pole, Peary was given the [[Thanks of Congress]] by a special act in March 1911.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.navalhistory.org/2013/01/18/peary-at-the-north-pole | title=Peary at the North pole | publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] | date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> By the same Act of Congress, Peary was promoted to the rank of [[Rear admiral (United States)|rear admiral]] in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, retroactive to April 6, 1909. He retired from the Navy the same day, to [[Eagle Island (Casco Bay, Maine)|Eagle Island]] on the coast of [[Maine]], in the town of Harpswell. His home there has been designated a Maine State Historic Site.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://bangordailynews.com/2013/12/09/news/north-pole-explorers-maine-home-nominated-as-national-historic-landmark/ | title=North Pole explorer's Maine home nominated as National Historic Landmark | first=Abigail | last=Curtis | work=[[Bangor Daily News]] | date=December 9, 2013}}</ref>

After retiring, Peary received many honors from scientific societies for his Arctic explorations and discoveries. He served twice as president of [[The Explorers Club]], from 1909 to 1911, and from 1913 to 1916.

In early 1916, Peary became chairman of the National Aerial Coast Patrol Commission, a private organization created by the [[Aero Club of America]]. It advocated the use of aircraft to detect warships and submarines off the U.S. coast.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-2/pdfs/Chap_1.pdf | title=Origins of Navy Patrol Aviation, 1911 to 1920s}}</ref> Peary used his celebrity to promote the use of military and naval aviation, which led directly to the formation of [[United States Navy Reserve]] aerial coastal patrol units during [[World War I]]. After the war, Peary proposed a system of eight airmail routes, which became the genesis of the U.S. Postal Service's airmail system.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c84q815p/entire_text/ | title=Guide to the Frederick A. Cook and Robert E. Peary Collection MSS.2017.07.14 | publisher=[[Santa Clara University]]}}</ref>

In 1914, Peary bought the house at 1831 Wyoming Avenue NW in the [[Adams Morgan]] neighborhood of [[Washington, D.C.]], where he lived until his death on February 20, 1920.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-06-25-1995176044-story.html | title=Washington's present meets the past in Adams-Morgan NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR | first=Ralph | last=Vigoda | work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] | date=June 25, 1995 | url-access=limited}}</ref> He began renovating the house in 1920, shortly before his death, after which the renovation was taken over by Josephine. She sold the house in 1927, receiving a $12,000 promissory note.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/ade/item/95858654/ | title=Architectural drawing for alterations to a row house ("residence") for Josephine D. Peary (originally for Adm. Robert E. Peary), 1831 Wyoming Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. | year=1920 | publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref>

He was buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Explorers/Robert-Peary | title=Robert Peary | publisher=[[Arlington National Cemetery]]}}</ref> Matthew Henson was honored by being re-interred nearby on April 6, 1988.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/Explorers/Matthew-Henson | title=Matthew Alexander Henson | publisher=[[Arlington National Cemetery]]}}</ref>