1887-1972

American explorer who expanded knowledge of the Arctic. A wealthy San Francisco heiress, Boyd invested in seven scientific Arctic expeditions. She wrote books, describing plants, animals, and topography, that were illustrated with her photographs. Boyd searched for missing explorer Roald Amundsen in 1928. She was a military consultant regarding World War II Arctic radio transmissions. Boyd received numerous awards and several geographical landmarks were named for her. In 1955 she became the first woman to fly over the North Pole.