Sven Hedin - Intellectuals & Academics, Family and Facts
Sven Hedin's Personal Details
Sven Hedin was a Swedish explorer, geographer and travel writer known for his expeditions to Central Asia
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | February 19, 1865 |
| Died on | November 26, 1952 |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Famous | Intellectuals & Academics, Geographers, Explorers |
| Birth Place | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Born in | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Famous as | Geographer, Explorer |
| Died at Age | 87 |
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Sven Hedin's photo
Who is Sven Hedin?
Sven Hedin was a Swedish explorer, geographer and travel writer known for his expeditions to Central Asia that led to important archaeological and geographical findings. He not only located sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers during his series of expeditions, but also mapped the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin. Interested in travelling from a young age, he was greatly motivated when as a teenager he witnessed the triumphant return of the Arctic explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld after his first navigation of the Northern Sea Route. He resolved to become an explorer himself and received training under the German geographer and China expert, Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen. Beginning from the late 19th century, he embarked on several major expeditions to Central Asia. His travel notes and scientific documentation of his travels enriched the Western knowledge about the nations in Central Asia. He gained a reputation as an expert on Turkestan and Tibet, and along with the likes of Sir Francis Younghusband and Sir Aurel Stein, Hedin was an active player in the British-Russian struggle for influence in Central Asia. He never married nor had children. At the time of his death he granted the rights of his books and his extensive personal effects to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
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Childhood & Early Life
Sven Anders Hedin was born on 19 February 1865, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Abraham Ludvig Hedin and Anna Sofia Berlin. His father was the town architect.
When Hedin was 15 years old, the Swedish Arctic explorer, Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld ,returned home after his first navigation of the Northern Sea Route. Hedin was fascinated by the hero’s welcome Nordenskiöld received and resolved to become an explorer himself.
Hedin graduated from Beskowska secondary school in Stockholm in 1885. Later that year he traveled to Baku with his student Erhard Sandgren and tutored him there for seven months. During this time he himself learned Latin, French, German, Russian, English and Tatar languages, along with several Persian dialects.
Following his return, he studied geology, mineralogy, zoology and Latin under the geologist Waldemar Brøgger from 1886 to 1888. In December 1888, he became a Candidate in Philosophy.
He then continued his studies under the German geographer and China expert, Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen in Berlin. During this time, he also attended lectures by Alfred Kirchhoff at the University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle. In 1892, he received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a 28-page dissertation titled ‘Personal Observations of Damavand’.
Later Years
Hedin embarked on a major expedition from Stockholm in October 1893, traveling via Saint Petersburg and Tashkent to the Pamir Mountains. Over the next few years he covered 26,000 kilometres and mapped 10,498 kilometres of them on 552 sheets.
He went on another expedition in Central Asia starting in 1899. During this journey he travelled through the Tarim Basin, Tibet and Kashmir to Calcutta. Over the course of this journey he navigated the Yarkand, Tarim and Kaidu, and discovered the dried out lake bed of Lop Nur.
He attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to reach the city of Lhasa in 1900 and 1901. He then proceeded to Leh and from there he visited Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Benares, and Calcutta. The expedition led to the creation of 1,149 pages of maps.
He explored the Trans-Himalaya mountain range of Tibet on his next expedition and investigated the Central Persian desert basins, the western highlands of Tibet and the Transhimalaya ranges between 1905 and 1908. During this trip he became the first European to reach the Kailash region, including the sacred Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. He returned with a collection of geological samples from this expedition.
A much popular and acclaimed explorer by this time, he led an international Sino-Swedish Expedition between 1927 and 1935 which investigated the meteorological, topographic and prehistoric situation in Mongolia, the Gobi Desert and Xinjiang. He also led a Chinese expedition on behalf of the Kuomintang government to investigate irrigation measures during this period.
The great explorer found himself in a dire financial situation at the end of the expedition in 1935. Having accumulated considerable debts, he gave more than a hundred lectures in 91 German cities as well as 19 lectures in neighboring countries to earn money to repay his debts.
He also published several works which include ‘Through Asia’ (1898), ‘Southern Tibet’ (13 vol., 1917–22), ‘My Life as an Explorer’ (1926), and ‘The Silk Road’ (1938).
Major Works
Hedin’s explorations led to important archaeological and geographical findings. His expedition notes paved the way for the precise mapping of Central Asia and he was among the first explorers to unearth the ruins of ancient Buddhist cities in Chinese Central Asia.
During 1933-34, Hedin led a Chinese expedition on behalf of the Kuomintang government under Chiang Kai-shek to investigate irrigation measures and draw up infrastructural plans. His plans led to the construction of major irrigation facilities and roads.
Awards & Achievements
Sven Hedin was the recipient of several prestigious awards including Vega Medal (1898), Livingstone Medal (1902), and Victoria Medal (1903).
In 1902, Hedin was raised to the untitled nobility by King Oskar II, becoming the last Swede to receive a charter of nobility.
He was admitted to membership in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1905 and to the Royal Swedish Academy of Military Sciences in 1909.
He was named Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire by King Edward VII in the United Kingdom.
The Berlin Geographical Society presented him with the Ferdinand von Richthofen Medal in 1933.
Personal Life & Legacy
Sven Hedin never married nor had any children.
He died on 26 November 1952, at the age of 87. At the time of his death he granted the rights of his books and his extensive personal effects to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Sven Hedin Foundation established soon after holds all the rights of ownership.
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Sven Hedin's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1898 - Founder's Gold Medal | |
| 0 | 1902 - Livingstone Medal | |
| 0 | 1903 - Victoria Medal | |
Sven Hedin biography timelines
- // 19th Feb 1865Sven Anders Hedin was born on 19 February 1865, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Abraham Ludvig Hedin and Anna Sofia Berlin. His father was the town architect.
- // 1885Hedin graduated from Beskowska secondary school in Stockholm in 1885. Later that year he traveled to Baku with his student Erhard Sandgren and tutored him there for seven months. During this time he himself learned Latin, French, German, Russian, English and Tatar languages, along with several Persian dialects.
- // 1892He then continued his studies under the German geographer and China expert, Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen in Berlin. During this time, he also attended lectures by Alfred Kirchhoff at the University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle. In 1892, he received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a 28-page dissertation titled ‘Personal Observations of Damavand’.
- // Oct 1893Hedin embarked on a major expedition from Stockholm in October 1893, traveling via Saint Petersburg and Tashkent to the Pamir Mountains. Over the next few years he covered 26,000 kilometres and mapped 10,498 kilometres of them on 552 sheets.
- // 1899He went on another expedition in Central Asia starting in 1899. During this journey he travelled through the Tarim Basin, Tibet and Kashmir to Calcutta. Over the course of this journey he navigated the Yarkand, Tarim and Kaidu, and discovered the dried out lake bed of Lop Nur.
- // 1900 To 1901He attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to reach the city of Lhasa in 1900 and 1901. He then proceeded to Leh and from there he visited Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Benares, and Calcutta. The expedition led to the creation of 1,149 pages of maps.
- // 1902In 1902, Hedin was raised to the untitled nobility by King Oskar II, becoming the last Swede to receive a charter of nobility.
- // 1905 To 1908He explored the Trans-Himalaya mountain range of Tibet on his next expedition and investigated the Central Persian desert basins, the western highlands of Tibet and the Transhimalaya ranges between 1905 and 1908. During this trip he became the first European to reach the Kailash region, including the sacred Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. He returned with a collection of geological samples from this expedition.
- // 1905 To 1909He was admitted to membership in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1905 and to the Royal Swedish Academy of Military Sciences in 1909.
- // 1927 To 1935A much popular and acclaimed explorer by this time, he led an international Sino-Swedish Expedition between 1927 and 1935 which investigated the meteorological, topographic and prehistoric situation in Mongolia, the Gobi Desert and Xinjiang. He also led a Chinese expedition on behalf of the Kuomintang government to investigate irrigation measures during this period.
- // 1933 To 1934During 1933-34, Hedin led a Chinese expedition on behalf of the Kuomintang government under Chiang Kai-shek to investigate irrigation measures and draw up infrastructural plans. His plans led to the construction of major irrigation facilities and roads.
- // 1933The Berlin Geographical Society presented him with the Ferdinand von Richthofen Medal in 1933.
- // 1935The great explorer found himself in a dire financial situation at the end of the expedition in 1935. Having accumulated considerable debts, he gave more than a hundred lectures in 91 German cities as well as 19 lectures in neighboring countries to earn money to repay his debts.
- // 26th Nov 1952He died on 26 November 1952, at the age of 87. At the time of his death he granted the rights of his books and his extensive personal effects to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Sven Hedin Foundation established soon after holds all the rights of ownership.
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Sven Hedin's FAQ
What is Sven Hedin birthday?
Sven Hedin was born at 1865-02-19
When was Sven Hedin died?
Sven Hedin was died at 1952-11-26
Which age was Sven Hedin died?
Sven Hedin was died at age 87
Where is Sven Hedin's birth place?
Sven Hedin was born in Stockholm, Sweden
What is Sven Hedin nationalities?
Sven Hedin's nationalities is Swedish
What is Sven Hedin's sun sign?
Sven Hedin is Aquarius
How famous is Sven Hedin?
Sven Hedin is famouse as Geographer, Explorer