Amundsen, Roald (1872-1928), a Norwegian polar explorer.
Amundsen was the first man to reach the South Pole, to sail a
ship completely through the Northwest Passage, and to fly a
dirigible over the North Pole.  Amundsen was born in Borge.
After studying medicine for two years, he went to sea on a
Norwegian freighter. From 1897 to 1899 he served as first mate
on a Belgian ship, the Belgica, which was the first to winter in
the Antarctic.  From 1903 to 1906 Amundsen commanded the Gjöa in
the first complete navigation of the Northwest Passage between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.