1899-1964

Norwegian-Canadian seaman who captained the first west-to-east voyage down the Northwest Passage. (Roald Amundsen made the first crossing of the Northwest Passage in 1903-05, but went from east to west.) Larsen made the trip aboard a Canadian naval ship, the St. Roch, in 1942. For this and other accomplishments, he received Canada's first Massey Medal, the country's highest geographical honor.