1879day.year
Knud Rasmussen
(1879 - 1933)
Danish anthropologist and explorer
Danish anthropologist and explorer
Knud Rasmussen was a Danish anthropologist and polar explorer known as the 'father of Eskimology.'
Born in 1879 to a Danish mission family in Greenland, Knud Rasmussen pioneered the scientific study of Inuit culture.
He led the groundbreaking Fifth Thule Expedition (1921–1924), traversing the Arctic by dog sled to document indigenous customs.
Rasmussen published detailed ethnographic accounts, preserving oral histories, legends, and traditional knowledge.
His work bridged cultural understanding between Europe and the Arctic, influencing anthropology and polar research.
Rasmussen also collected artifacts and linguistic data, many of which are housed in museums across Denmark and Canada.
He received international acclaim for his explorations before his untimely death in 1933.
His legacy endures through institutions like the Knud Rasmussen Institute and ongoing Arctic research.
1879
Knud Rasmussen