Peary, Marie Ahnighito, 1893-1978

Marie Ahnighito Peary was born in Northwest Greenland on September 12, 1893, to arctic explorer Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary and his wife, Josephine Diebitsch Peary, of Portland, Maine, and Washington, DC. Their daughter became known world-wide as the "Snow Baby," a name given to her by the Greenland natives who had never before seen a white baby. In 1909, when Marie was 16 years old, Admiral Peary became the first white man to lead a successful expedition to the North Pole. In 1917, Marie Peary married Edward Stafford, a Washington attorney and during the next three years they had two sons. In 1920, Peary Stafford's father died. In 1932, she set sail to the Arctic to erect a monument in honor of her father and to memorialize his accomplishments. Peary Stafford was also an important political figure: during World War II. She was part of the Danish-American Commission, which stabilized the dollar as well as established security for Denmark and Greenland. For her contributions to the Commission, Peary Stafford was awarded the Liberation Medal by the Danish government. In 1950, she was awarded the Henry B. Bryant medal for her contributions to geographical information. After both her husband and her mother died in 1955, Peary Stafford moved to Brunswick, Maine, and, in 1967, she married her second husband, William Kuhne, a retired seaman. Peary Stafford lived the remainder of her life in Brunswick until her death in 1978. Marie Peary Stafford was the author of five books and many articles, and held an honorary Master of Arts Degree from Bowdoin College. Marie Ahnighito Peary was born in Northwest Greenland on September 12, 1893, to arctic explorer Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary and his wife, Josephine Diebitsch Peary, of Portland, Maine, and Washington, DC. Their daughter became known world-wide as the "Snow Baby," a name given to her by the Greenland natives who had never before seen a white baby. In 1909, when Marie was 16 years old, Admiral Peary became the first white man to lead a successful expedition to the North Pole. In 1917, Marie Peary married Edward Stafford, a Washington attorney and during the next three years they had two sons. In 1920, Peary Stafford's father died. In 1932, she set sail to the Arctic to erect a monument in honor of her father and to memorialize his accomplishments. Peary Stafford was also an important political figure: during World War II. She was part of the Danish-American Commission, which stabilized the dollar as well as established security for Denmark and Greenland. For her contributions to the Commission, Peary Stafford was awarded the Liberation Medal by the Danish government. In 1950, she was awarded the Henry B. Bryant medal for her contributions to geographical information. After both her husband and her mother died in 1955, Peary Stafford moved to Brunswick, Maine, and, in 1967, she married her second husband, William Kuhne, a retired seaman. Peary Stafford lived the remainder of her life in Brunswick until her death in 1978. Marie Peary Stafford was the author of five books and many articles, and held an honorary Master of Arts Degree from Bowdoin College. Marie Ahnighito Peary died on April 16, 1978, in Brunswick, Maine.