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Matthew Henson's parents died when he was very young. The uncle with whom he lived was so mean to him that Matthew ran away from home. He was only thirteen years old. He had no place to go, so he found a job at a small restaurant, and the owner took pity on him and let him sleep on the floor of the restaurant at night. Next a sea captain hired him to work on his ship. One day while working in a store he met Robert Peary. Peary was so impressed with Henson's credentials he made him his assistant on his expeditions. The first trip they made together was to Nicaragua to chart the jungle there. He spent twenty years of his life traveling and exploring with Robert Peary. He was with Peary for seven years in the Arctic. On the final trip in 1909 they finally reached the North Pole. Henson said he was the first man there because he was at the front of the sled and Peary was riding in the back of the sled. Peary, of course, took credit for being first since it was his expedition. His attitude toward his assistant changed.He did not want Henson to receive credit for his hard work. After the expedition, Henson could not get a very good job. Then four years later President Taft assigned to him the title of clerk in the New York Customs House.Henson attended Harvard University and earned a master's degree. After many years he began to be recognized for his contribution to the polar exploration. In 1944 Matthew Henson received the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1954 President Eisenhower presented him with an award. A ship was named after him; the U.S.N.S. Henson, schools were named after him, and other honors were given in his memory. In 1988 Henson's body was moved to Arlington National Cemetery where he was interred near the place where Robert Peary was buried.
