Stein, Robert, 1857-1917

Dates

• Existence: 1857 - 1917

Biography

Robert Stein was a linguist and a long time member of the U.S. Geological Survey. In 1893, he presented a plan for an expedition in 1894 to explore Ellesmere Island and to search for the missing Swedish naturalists, Bjorling and Kallstenius. Although he recruited a large number of qualified men for the expedition, it was canceled apparently for lack of funds. In 1896, Stein proposed a plan for continuous Arctic exploration to begin in 1897 with an expedition to Jones Sound, where a permanent base would be established. This expedition also failed to get under way, but Stein did accompany the Peary summer expedition to Greenland and with three Eskimos explored the west coast. Stein returned to the Arctic in 1899, this time with two companions on the Peary relief ship, "Diana." After stopping briefly in Greenland, they established a base on Cape Sabine, Ellesmere Island, and remained in the area until summer 1901. Stein studied Eskimo linguistics, but his exploring had no notable results. Back in the United States, Stein continued to write about Arctic work, although he never returned to the Arctic. He was also the author of articles on economic and social subject and proposed a system of uniform notation of language sounds.

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