EARLY YEARS 
often only companion was Matthew Alexan- 
der Henson. 
To-day there is a more general knowledge 
of Commander Peary, his work and his suc- 
cess, and a vague understanding of the fact 
that Commander Peary's sole companion from 
the realm of civilization, when he stood at the 
North Pole, was Matthew A. Henson, a Col- 
ored Man. 
To satisfy the demand of perfectly natural 
curiosity, I have undertaken to write a brief 
autobiography, giving particularly an account 
of my Arctic work. 
I was born in Charles County, Maryland, 
August 8, 1866. The place of my birth was 
on the Potomac River, about forty-four miles 
below Washington, D. C. Slavery days were 
over forever when I was born. Besides, my 
parents were both free born before me, and in 
my mother's veins ran some white blood. At 
an early age, my parents were induced to 
leave the country and remove to Washington, 
D. C. My mother died when I was seven 
years old. I was taken in charge by my uncle, 
who sent me to school, the "N Street School" 
in Washington, D. C, which I attended for 
2 
