Fridtjof Nansen.

Fridtjof Wedel Jarlsberg Nansen

Born 10 Oct 1861 Store-Frøen, Norway

Died 13 May 1930 Lysaker, Norway

Citizenship Norway

5 min read

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Words

Mar 5, 2026

Published

Film credit

Books

Awards

TL;DR

Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian Arctic explorer and humanitarian, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his relief efforts after World War I. He led polar expeditions and inspired the creation of the Nansen passport for stateless refugees. He was born in 1861 and died in 1930.

Identity & family.

KIN · 7

Names, aliases, and relatives of Fridtjof Nansen — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Fridtjof Wedel Jarlsberg Nansen

PARENTS: Baldur Fridtjof Nansen
SPOUSES: Sigrun Munthe Eva Sars
CHILDREN: Odd Nansen Irmelin Revold
SIBLINGS: Alexander Nansen Sigrid Bølling

At a glance.

STATS

Fridtjof Nansen by the numbers — life, work, and family.

68 Years lived

1 Film credit

12 Books

21 Awards

2 Marriages

2 Children

Who was Fridtjof Nansen?

BIOGRAPHY

Fridtjof Nansen — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born on 10 October 1861 in Store-Frøen, Norway, Fridtjof Nansen was the son of Baldur Fridtjof Nansen. He grew up surrounded by Norwegian nature, which sparked his early interest in exploration. He studied zoology at the University of Oslo.

Career

Fridtjof Nansen first became known for his Arctic expeditions. After World War I, he shifted to humanitarian work, organizing relief for refugees and prisoners of war. In 1922, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for this work. His many honors include the Commander of the Legion of Honour and the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Personal life

Fridtjof Nansen married Eva Sars and later Sigrun Munthe. He had two children: Odd Nansen and Irmelin Revold. His siblings were Alexander Nansen and Sigrid Bølling. He died of a heart attack on 13 May 1930 in Lysaker, Norway.

Legacy

Fridtjof Nansen led Arctic expeditions and later won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his humanitarian work. His relief efforts inspired the creation of the Nansen passport for stateless refugees. In 2008, actor Jasper Britton portrayed him in the play Fram at the National Theatre in London. His awards include the Nobel Peace Prize and many other honors.

Filmography.

FILMS · 1

Browse the complete filmography of Fridtjof Nansen — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

Frosset Hjerte

1999

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 21

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Fridtjof Nansen — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Nobel Peace Prize
Commander of the Legion of Honour
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Constantin Medal
Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy
Vega Medal
Patron's Medal
Order of Saint Stanislaus, 1st class
Grand Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph
Alexander von Humboldt Medal
Carl-Ritter-Medal
Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations
Cullum Geographical Medal
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Medal of Merit
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav
Knight of the Order of St. Olav
Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Order of Saint Michael
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 12

Fridtjof Nansen's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Fram Over Polhavet

by Fridtjof Nansen
Amazon

The First Crossing of Greenland

by Fridtjof Nansen
Amazon

Fridtjof Nansen's "Farthest North"

by Fridtjof Nansen
Amazon

Eskimoliv

by Fridtjof Nansen
Amazon

Siberien Ein Zukunftsland

by Fridtjof Nansen
Amazon

In Nacht Und Eis

by Fridtjof Nansen
Amazon

Adventure, and Other Papers

by Fridtjof Nansen

Could not load more books.

Did you know?

FACTS · 3

Little-known facts about Fridtjof Nansen — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Fridtjof Nansen won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his relief work after World War I.
He led Arctic expeditions.
Jasper Britton portrayed Fridtjof Nansen in the play Fram at the National Theatre in London in April 2008.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 25

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Fridtjof Nansen.

When was Fridtjof Nansen born?

Fridtjof Nansen was born on October 10, 1861, in Store-Frøen, Norway, to Baldur Fridtjof Nansen.
Where was Fridtjof Nansen born?

Fridtjof Nansen was born in Store-Frøen, Norway, on October 10, 1861. He spent his early childhood there.
When did Fridtjof Nansen die?

Fridtjof Nansen died on May 13, 1930, in Lysaker, Norway, at the age of 68 from a heart attack.
How old was Fridtjof Nansen when he died?

Fridtjof Nansen was 68 years old when he died on May 13, 1930. He was born on October 10, 1861.
Where did Fridtjof Nansen die?

Fridtjof Nansen died in Lysaker, Norway, on May 13, 1930. The cause was a heart attack.
How did Fridtjof Nansen die?

Fridtjof Nansen died from a heart attack on May 13, 1930, in Lysaker, Norway. He was 68 years old.
What was Fridtjof Nansen's full birth name?

His full name was Fridtjof Wedel Jarlsberg Nansen. He was born on October 10, 1861.
What nationality was Fridtjof Nansen?

Fridtjof Nansen was Norwegian. He was born in Store-Frøen, Norway.
Who were Fridtjof Nansen's parents?

Fridtjof Nansen’s father was Baldur Fridtjof Nansen. Information about his mother is not provided.
Who was Fridtjof Nansen married to?

Fridtjof Nansen married Eva Sars and later Sigrun Munthe. He had two children: Odd Nansen and Irmelin Revold.
Did Fridtjof Nansen have children?

Yes, he had two children: Odd Nansen and Irmelin Revold.
Did Fridtjof Nansen have any siblings?

Yes, he had two siblings: Alexander Nansen and Sigrid Bølling.
Where did Fridtjof Nansen study?

Fridtjof Nansen studied at the University of Oslo.
What awards did Fridtjof Nansen win?

Fridtjof Nansen won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 and a total of 21 major awards, including the Commander of the Legion of Honour, the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and the Constantin Medal.
How many awards did Fridtjof Nansen receive?

Fridtjof Nansen received 21 major awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize. His awards include orders, medals, and honors from multiple countries.
What did Fridtjof Nansen do to win the Nobel Peace Prize?

Fridtjof Nansen won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his relief work after World War I. He organized aid for refugees and prisoners of war.
Was Fridtjof Nansen an Arctic explorer?

Yes, Fridtjof Nansen was an Arctic explorer. He led expeditions in the polar regions. His Arctic work preceded his humanitarian career.
What is the play Fram about?

The play Fram by Tony Harrison premiered at the National Theatre in London in April 2008. It features Fridtjof Nansen as a character, portrayed by Jasper Britton.
What is the Nansen passport?

The Nansen passport was a travel document for stateless refugees, created as a result of Fridtjof Nansen‘s relief work. It was named after him after his death and helped many displaced people after World War I.
Did Fridtjof Nansen have a son named Odd?

Yes, Fridtjof Nansen had a son named Odd Nansen. Odd Nansen is one of his two children, along with Irmelin Revold.
What is the Constantin Medal?

Fridtjof Nansen received the Constantin Medal, a Swedish award for exploration. He also received the Vega Medal and the Patron’s Medal.
Where did Fridtjof Nansen go to university?

Fridtjof Nansen attended the University of Oslo, where he studied zoology.
Who portrayed Fridtjof Nansen in the play Fram?

Jasper Britton portrayed Fridtjof Nansen in the original production of the play Fram at the National Theatre in London in April 2008.
What is the Order of Saint Olav?

The Order of Saint Olav is a Norwegian order of knighthood. Fridtjof Nansen was a Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav, among other classes.
How many children did Fridtjof Nansen have?

Fridtjof Nansen had two children: Odd Nansen and Irmelin Revold.

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Published on March 5, 2026

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