Robert Stein (explorer)

Robert Stein (1857 – 27 November 1917) was an American explorer, cartographer, and sociologist, known primarily for his ill-fated expedition to reach the North Pole in 1906-1908. Born in Austria-Hungary, Stein immigrated to the United States in 1879 and initially pursued a career in sociology, publishing several works on social statistics. He later developed a strong interest in polar exploration.

Stein’s most notable endeavor was the Ziegler Polar Expedition (also known as the Fiala Ziegler Polar Expedition), funded by industrialist William Ziegler. He served as the scientific director and second-in-command under Anthony Fiala. The expedition's primary goal was to reach the North Pole via Franz Josef Land. The expedition launched in 1901, but was plagued by logistical problems, poor planning, and leadership conflicts. Ziegler died in 1905, further complicating the mission.

After the first attempt to reach the Pole failed, and facing increasing internal dissent, the expedition was reorganized in 1905 for a second attempt in 1906. This second attempt, also led by Fiala, met with similar failures. In 1906, amid escalating tensions and deteriorating conditions within the camp, Stein was effectively deposed from his role. Fiala ordered Stein to return south in 1906 aboard the supply ship Terra Nova.

Upon his return, Stein fiercely criticized Fiala's leadership, publicly accusing him of incompetence and mismanagement. He presented his own account of the expedition's failures, contributing to a controversy surrounding the Ziegler expedition. Despite the expedition's overall failure to reach the Pole, Stein's geographical and scientific contributions were significant. He documented the Franz Josef Land archipelago and expanded geographical knowledge of the Arctic region. Following the Ziegler expedition, Stein continued to pursue his interest in polar exploration. He died in 1917 in New York City.