(1875-1946 )

"Captain Bob” of Newfoundland, with more than 40 voyages into the far North and over 200 000 miles of sailing in Arctic waters to his credit, is one of Canada’s seafaring heroes. When Admiral Peary reached the North Pole by dog team in 1909, it was Bartlett who brought the Roosevelt within 133 miles of the top of the world. For that achievement, Bartlett was honoured with the Hubbard Gold Medal by the National Geographic Society. When the Karluk was crushed in the Arctic ice, Captain Bob’s bravery and leadership saved many lives. In an age before the airplane came into use as an instrument of exploration, Bob Bartlett’s work made possible many Canadian Arctic exploring expeditions.