Explorer. Born in Elmira, New York, the son of Mary and Edward Marvin. In 1899, he entered Cornell University, he also attended New York Nautical School, and was graduated in 1902, while earning a degree from Cornell in 1905. Shortly after graduation, he joined Robert Peary in his attempt to find the North Pole. Although their ship was constructed to withstand the pressure of shifting ice, the crew still fell 200 miles short of reaching their destination, and they were forced to retreat. Upon his return to New York, he took a post teaching engineering at Cornell University. He took a leave of absence, however, when Peary organized another expedition. On July 6, 1908 he again joined Robert Peary and 22 other men, aboard the SS Roosevelt on an expedition to find the North Pole. He served as Peary's secretary and assistant, recording the ship's log. On July 10, Marvin, along with Inuit cousins called Kudlookto and Harrigan, remained at base while Peary made a sortie in search of the pole. It was the last time Marvin was seen alive. Initially, a story told by the guides that he had broken through the ice and drowned, was accepted, but almost two decades after the fact, Kudlookto apparently confessed to a Danish missionary that he had murdered Marvin. Some stories have since implied that Marvin had had a confrontation with Harrigan, and Kudlookto shot him to protect his cousin, while others suggest that he had been killed unintentionally. The facts, however, are few, and the circumstances of Marvin's death remain controversial. Peary wrote, "The bones of Ross G. Marvin lie farther north than those of any other human being."
Explorer. Born in Elmira, New York, the son of Mary and Edward Marvin. In 1899, he entered Cornell University, he also attended New York Nautical School, and was graduated in 1902, while earning a degree from Cornell in 1905. Shortly after graduation, he joined Robert Peary in his attempt to find the North Pole. Although their ship was constructed to withstand the pressure of shifting ice, the crew still fell 200 miles short of reaching their destination, and they were forced to retreat. Upon his return to New York, he took a post teaching engineering at Cornell University. He took a leave of absence, however, when Peary organized another expedition. On July 6, 1908 he again joined Robert Peary and 22 other men, aboard the SS Roosevelt on an expedition to find the North Pole. He served as Peary's secretary and assistant, recording the ship's log. On July 10, Marvin, along with Inuit cousins called Kudlookto and Harrigan, remained at base while Peary made a sortie in search of the pole. It was the last time Marvin was seen alive. Initially, a story told by the guides that he had broken through the ice and drowned, was accepted, but almost two decades after the fact, Kudlookto apparently confessed to a Danish missionary that he had murdered Marvin. Some stories have since implied that Marvin had had a confrontation with Harrigan, and Kudlookto shot him to protect his cousin, while others suggest that he had been killed unintentionally. The facts, however, are few, and the circumstances of Marvin's death remain controversial. Peary wrote, "The bones of Ross G. Marvin lie farther north than those of any other human being."
Bio by: Iola
Gravesite Details
Text that states "Body not recovered, buried in a cairn made of stones " is incorrect -- Marvin's body was never recovered; noted cairn is a cenotaph erected at Cape Sheridan on Ellesmere Island. See subject's Wikipedia bio and cited sources there.
Family Members
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