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Peary had previously made several expeditions to the Arctic. Unlike many previous explorers, Peary studied Inuit survival techniques, learned to drive a dog sled, build igloos, and dress in practical furs in the native fashion. Peary also relied on the Inuit as hunters and dog-drivers on his expeditions, and pioneered the use of the system (which he called the "Peary system") of using support teams and supply caches for Arctic travel.

For his final assault on the North Pole, Peary set off from New York City with 23 men on July 6, 1908 and wintered near Cape Sheridan on Ellesmere IslandEllesmere Island in the Arctic Ocean, is the world's 10th largest island, with an area of 196,235 km2 (75,767 square miles). Ellesmere Island is part of the Arctic Islands of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. More than one-fifth of the island is protecte. From there they departed for the pole on March 1March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). There are 305 days remaining. Events BC 29 BC Horace writes the ode Occidit Daci Cotisonis agmen''. AD First thousand years 286 Maximian proclaimed junior Roman emperor., 1909. The last support party turned back on April 1April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. Events 527 Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. 1789 In New York City, the United Stat, 1909 in latitude 87°47' north. On the final stage of the journey to the North Pole only five of his men, Matthew HensonMatthew Henson ( 1866 1955) was an American explorer who may have been the first to reach the Geographic North Pole with Robert Peary in 1909. However, some have estimated that Peary's party missed the pole by up to 30 km. Due to his being black and his s, Oatah , Egingwah , SeeglooSeeglo was an Eskimo that accompanied Robert Peary on his final quest for the North Pole. Polar historians believe that Peary honestly thought he had reached the pole on April 6, 1909. However a 1996 analysis of a newly-discovered copy of Peary's record i, and Ookeah , remained. In his diary for the 7th April (but actually written up much later when preparing his journals for publication), Peary wrote "The Pole at last!!! The prize of 3 centuries, my dream and ambition for 23 years. Mine at last ..".

Peary's claim to have reached the North Pole has always been subject to doubt, for a number of reasons. He had no sooner returned from the Arctic before he learned that Frederick CookFrederick Albert Cook ( June 10, 1865 1940) was an American explorer and physician. Cook was born at Callicoon Depot, New York, on June 10, 1865. His parents were Dr. Theodore A. Koch and Magdalena Koch, recent German immigrants to the USA. He attended Co was also claiming to have reached the pole the previous year; while Cook was almost certainly guilty of fraud and never went anywhere near the pole, the same questions and doubts concerning lack of evidence that applied to Cook applied equally to Peary. The party that accompanied Peary on the final stage of the journey included no one who was trained in navigation and could independently confirm his own navigational work, which appeared to be particularly sloppy as he approached the pole. The distances and speeds Peary claimed to have achieved once the last support party turned back border on the incredible, almost three times that which he had accomplished up to that point. Peary's account of a beeline journey to the pole and back -- the only thing that might have allowed him to travel at such a speed -- is contradicted by HensonMatthew Henson ( 1866 1955) was an American explorer who may have been the first to reach the Geographic North Pole with Robert Peary in 1909. However, some have estimated that Peary's party missed the pole by up to 30 km. Due to his being black and his s's account of tortured detours to avoid pressure ridges and open leads. A 1996 analysis of a newly-discovered copy of Peary's record indicates that Peary was almost certainly 20 miles (32km) short of the Pole.

Some polar historians believe that Peary honestly thought he had reached the pole. Others have suggested that he was guilty of deliberately exaggerating his accomplishments. Still others have suggested that any hint that Peary did not reach the pole must be the work of pro-Cook conspirators who are simply out to discredit Peary. The controversy will probably never be settled.

Peary was also the author of several books, the most famous being Northward over the Great Ice (1898) and Nearest the Pole (1907). The movie Glory & Honor by Kevin Hooks (2000) chronicles his journey to the pole.

In his book Ninety Degrees North, polar historian and author Fergus Fleming describes Peary as "undoubtedly the most driven, possibly the most successful and probably the most unpleasant man in the annals of polar exploration."

He was a graduate of Bowdoin College, Maine. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Matthew Henson was reinterred nearby on April 6, 1988.