Finn Malmgren
Encyclopedia
Finn Adolf Erik Johan Malmgren (1895 in Göteborg - June 1928) was a Swedish meteorologist and Arctic
explorer.
Malmgren studied in Göteborg, Sundsvall
and Stockholm
. In 1912 he started to study at the Uppsala University
where he received a bachelor's degree in 1916. In 1917 Malmgren became assistant to professor Axel Hamberg in his observatory at Pårtetjåkko; in 1920 he returned to the meteorological institute in Uppsala and a year later was appointed assistant professor at Otto Pettersson's hydrographic institute for oceanic studies on an island in the Gullmarsfjord.
During 1922-25, Malmgren participated in the expedition of Roald Amundsen
and Harald Ulrik Sverdrup in the Arctic, on board the Maud
. In 1926 he was on board the Italian airship Norge
which overflew the North Pole
, where he used scientific instruments from František Běhounek
.
In early 1927 he was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav.
In 1928 the scientist joined the expedition of Umberto Nobile
with the airship Italia
. During the third flight, on 25 May, the airship crashed and several members of the expedition were stranded on floating ice, Malmgren with an injured shoulder among them. On 30 May Malmgren, together with Italian officers Filippo Zappi and Adalberto Mariano, decided to walk back to King's Bay for help. On 15/16 June Malmgren collapsed and asked to be left behind. On 11 July the Soviet pilot Chukhnovsky, from the icebreaker Krasin
, sighted Mariano and Zappi and also Malmgren's body. Mariano and Zappi were rescued the next day; the body of Finn Malmgren was not found.
The circumstances of Malmgren's death remain unclear. In the press Zappi and Mariano were suspected of abandoning Malmgren and even of cannibalism.
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
explorer.
Malmgren studied in Göteborg, Sundsvall
Sundsvall
-External links:* - Official site from Nordisk Familjebok - Sundsvalls tourist information bureau. - The alternative guide to Sundsvall. - Blog with photos from Sundsvall....
and Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. In 1912 he started to study at the Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
where he received a bachelor's degree in 1916. In 1917 Malmgren became assistant to professor Axel Hamberg in his observatory at Pårtetjåkko; in 1920 he returned to the meteorological institute in Uppsala and a year later was appointed assistant professor at Otto Pettersson's hydrographic institute for oceanic studies on an island in the Gullmarsfjord.
During 1922-25, Malmgren participated in the expedition of Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
and Harald Ulrik Sverdrup in the Arctic, on board the Maud
Maud (ship)
The Maud, named for Queen Maud of Norway, was a ship built for Roald Amundsen for his second expedition to the Arctic. Designed for his intended voyage through the Northeast Passage, the vessel was specially built at a shipyard in Asker, Norway on the Oslofjord.The Maud was launched in June 1916...
. In 1926 he was on board the Italian airship Norge
Norge (airship)
The Norge was a semi-rigid Italian-built airship that carried out what many consider the first verified overflight of the North Pole on May 12, 1926. It was also the first aircraft to fly over the polar ice cap between Europe and America...
which overflew the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
, where he used scientific instruments from František Běhounek
František Behounek
František Běhounek was a Czech scientist , explorer and writer.The asteroid 3278 Běhounek is named after him.- Biography :Běhounek studied physics and mathematics at Charles University, later radiology in France at Marie Curie-Skłodowska. In 1920s, he was one of the founders of State Radiological...
.
In early 1927 he was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav.
In 1928 the scientist joined the expedition of Umberto Nobile
Umberto Nobile
Umberto Nobile was an Italian aeronautical engineer and Arctic explorer. Nobile was a developer and promoter of semi-rigid airships during the Golden Age of Aviation between the two World Wars...
with the airship Italia
Airship Italia
Airship Italia was a semi-rigid airship used by Italian engineer Umberto Nobile in his second series of flights around the North Pole.-Design and specifications:...
. During the third flight, on 25 May, the airship crashed and several members of the expedition were stranded on floating ice, Malmgren with an injured shoulder among them. On 30 May Malmgren, together with Italian officers Filippo Zappi and Adalberto Mariano, decided to walk back to King's Bay for help. On 15/16 June Malmgren collapsed and asked to be left behind. On 11 July the Soviet pilot Chukhnovsky, from the icebreaker Krasin
Krasin (1916 icebreaker)
The first icebreaker Krasin was built for the Imperial Russian Navy as Svyatogor. She had a long, distinguished career in rescue operations, as well as a pathfinder and explorer of the Northern Sea Route...
, sighted Mariano and Zappi and also Malmgren's body. Mariano and Zappi were rescued the next day; the body of Finn Malmgren was not found.
The circumstances of Malmgren's death remain unclear. In the press Zappi and Mariano were suspected of abandoning Malmgren and even of cannibalism.