Larsen, Henry A.

Biography / Administrative History

Henry Asbjørn Larsen was born on September 30, 1899 at Herføl, one of the outermost islands of the Hvaler group. Larsen graduated from the Norwegian Polytechnic of Navigation and he spent a short period in the Norwegian Navy. After leaving Norway, he made two voyages to the Arctic as a Mate and Navigator on Captain Klingenberg’s ship Old Maid.

After becoming a naturalized Canadian, Larsen joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1928. Larsen commanded the R.C.M.P. vessel the St. Roch on her voyage through the Northwest Passage from west to east in 1942 and from east to west in 1944. He was commissioned a Sub-Inspector in the force in September 1941, promoted to Inspector in 1946, and Superintendent in 1953. From 1949 until his retirement on February 7, 1961, he was stationed at Ottawa in command of the "G" Division of the R.C.M.P. whose work dealt with the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

Larsen was a fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America and an honorary member of the Royal Geographic Society. He was awarded the Patron's gold medal by the Royal Geographic Society and also received the Polar medal and bar. In May 1961, Larsen received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Waterloo University College.

After his retirement, Larsen resided in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia before moving to Vancouver, British Columbia. Henry Larsen died in Vancouver on October 29, 1964 at the age of 65. He was buried in the R.C.M.P. cemetery at Regina, Saskatchewan and is survived by his wife Mary, a son and two daughters.

See also: In the W.B. & M.H. Chung Library: Big ship : Autobiography by Henry A. Larsen in co-operation with Frank R. Sheer and Edvard Omholt-Jensen (F 1060.9 L34 1967).

Related Collections
Collection: Henry Larsen collection
Subseries: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen
File: VMM Archives collection » Series 2: Personal papers » C.E. Jeffrey Collection - Henry Larsen records and photos
File: VMM Archives collection » Series 2: Personal papers » C.E. Jeffrey Collection - Henry Larsen newspaper clippings
File: VMM Archives collection » Series 2: Personal papers » J. Auld Collection - Henry Larsen records and St. Roch photographs
File: Parks Canada St. Roch Photograph collection » Photo files by subject » Henry Larsen
File: VMM Photograph collection » People » Larsen, Henry
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Polychaeta specimen collecting
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » H. Larsen funeral and memorial service clippings
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Larsen images
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » H. Larsen case file
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Henry Larsen audio/visual material
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Mary Larsen correspondence
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Vancouver Maritime Museum H. Larsen materials
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Larsen's diary July 1944-Sept. 11 1944
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Henry A. Larsen papers from Public Archives of Canada Manuscript Division
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Ship: Larsen’s diary July - September 11
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Daily journal H. Larsen
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Henry Larsen article in “Blue Line” magazine
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » [Henry Larsen electronic documents, scanned by Doreen Riedel on CD]
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Patrolling the Arctic and the North-West Passage in the R.C.M.P. ship "St. Roch"
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » Story of the R.C.M.P. "St. Roch" by her Commander Captain H.A. Larsen
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.3: Parks Canada and Vancouver Maritime Museum crew files » Larsen, H.A.
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 3: Logs and reports of the St. Roch » Subseries 3.1: Log books and entries » Ship: Log of the St. Roch June 26 – November 10 1928, May 1st to September 23
File: St. Roch research collection » Series 2: St. Roch crew files » Subseries 2.2: Henry Larsen » H. Larsen to D. Parkes correspondence
Related Archival Items
graphic materials: Larsen & Olsen rolling oakum (HCSW-20-13)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen as a young baby (2005.1023.0001)
graphic materials: Walrus part way up mast (HCSW-40-07)
graphic materials: Medal presentation to Cashin, Johnson, Peters & Larsen (HCRE-100-11)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen & unknown official (HCRE-100-12)
graphic materials: Henry & dog (HCRO-20-11)
graphic materials: Fall fishing (HCRO-30-13)
graphic materials: Larsen on skiis (HCRO-30-16)
graphic materials: Larsen skiing (HCRO-30-17)
graphic materials: Larsen and a crewman with a dog (HCRO-30-24)
graphic materials: Larsen on cairn built by Capt. Killet, 1853, Dealy Island (HCRO-40-52)
graphic materials: Larsen beside Franklin Monument Beechey Is. (HCRO-40-53)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen with two Inuit women (HCRO-40-66)
graphic materials: Larsen and Olga (HCRO-100-04)
graphic materials: Crewmen in front of wheelhouse (HCSR-20-13)
graphic materials: Crewmen on deck (HCSR-20-14)
graphic materials: 1928 crew on deck (HCSR-20-18)
graphic materials: 6 crew (including Larsen) posed on deck (HCSR-20-23)
graphic materials: Sculpture of Henry A. Larsen (HCSR-20-26)
graphic materials: Larsen leaning against deck with dog (HCSR-20-31)
graphic materials: Larsen and Anderton (HCSR-30-14)
graphic materials: Larsen and Anderton (HCSR-30-15)
graphic materials: Crew posed on deck (HCSR-30-22)
graphic materials: Olive Langerhorn, Henry Larsen, and Mary Larsen (nee Hargreaves) (HCSR-30-23)
graphic materials: Mary Hargreaves and Henry Larsen (HCSR-30-24)
graphic materials: Sgt. Anderton, Inspector James & Sgt. Larsen (HCSR-30-27)
graphic materials: Larsen on deck (HCSR-30-33)
graphic materials: Larsen, Diplock & McKenzie on deck with remains of the Mary (HCSR-40-07)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen holding hardtack & oxtail soup (HCSR-40-09)
graphic materials: 1942 crew in uniform (HCSR-40-18)
graphic materials: Crew on boom (HCSR-40-22)
graphic materials: Dickens, Russill, Larsen & McKenzie fishing (HCSR-40-41)
graphic materials: Men in uniform at mess table (HCSR-40-42)
graphic materials: Crew at the opening of the museum (HCSR-50-03)
graphic materials: 1954 crew members on foredeck (HCSR-50-04)
graphic materials: 1954 crew on main deck (HCSR-50-05)
graphic materials: Larsen on bow deck (HCSR-100-11)
graphic materials: Larsen on bow deck (HCSR-100-12)
graphic materials: Larsen in civil clothes on St. Roch (HCSR-100-13)
graphic materials: Larsen in suit on St. Roch deck (HCSR-100-18)
graphic materials: Crew holystoning deck (HCSW-20-05)
graphic materials: Parsloe & Larsen holystoning deck (HCSW-20-09)
graphic materials: Larsen with sextant (HCSW-20-10)
graphic materials: Larsen & crewmen caulking foredeck (HCSW-20-12)
graphic materials: Larsen & crewman painting rigging (HCSW-20-16)
graphic materials: Crossing the North Pacific (HCSW-30-03)
graphic materials: Larsen repairing a sail (HCSW-30-08)
graphic materials: Spring sealing (HCSW-30-09)
graphic materials: Larsen on bridge by gyro (HCSW-40-13)
graphic materials: Larsen caulking foredeck (HCSW-100-01)
graphic materials: Henry & self starting on a trip (HCWD-20-01)
graphic materials: Larsen and Olga (HCWD-20-05)
graphic materials: Going trapping (HCWD-30-17)
graphic materials: Larsen and Peters ready to go on patrol (HCWD-40-03)
graphic materials: Crewmen with loaded sled approaching them (HCWD-100-04)
graphic materials: Crew members sitting on edge of motor launch, Baillie Island (HCWO-20-01)
graphic materials: Men in ship's launch (HCWO-100-01)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen with frozen beard (LM2005.014.001)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen receiving honorary degree (LM2005.014.002)
graphic materials: Henry Larsen with frozen beard (LM2016.999.003)
graphic materials: Digging out the St. Roch (LM2018.005.019)
graphic materials: Larsen and Wood dressed as pirates (VMM03.07.02.04)
graphic materials: Tree River or Port Epworth (VMM03.07.02.05)
graphic materials: Merry Christmas from Henry (VMM02.02.181.001)
graphic materials: Henry and I (HCSR-20-20)
graphic materials: St. Roch 1929 Henry Larsen 3rd from left (HCSR-20-22)
graphic materials: Western Arctic Champions (HCRO-20-07)
graphic materials: Larsen in civilian clothes (HCSR-100-10)
sound recordings: Pat Hunt & Henry Larsen interviews [oral history] (VMM02.01.006)
sound recordings: Henry Larsen reminiscences (VMM02.01.023)
textual records: Letter from H. Larsen to Mr. J.W. Auld (LM2012.020.025)
textual records: Letter from Henry Larsen to Derek Parkes (LM2020.999.005)
Related Artifacts
Apron (2005.0037.0003.02)
Apron (2005.0037.0005)
Arctic Outerwear (part 1 of 2) (2013.003.001)
Badge, Cap (2019.999.172)
Bible (2005.0037.0002)
Chest (2012.002.1)
Deadeye (2020.002.001)
Ditty Bag (2019.999.038)
Gavel (2005.0037.0008)
Geometry Instruments (2005.0037.0015)
Hat (2005.0037.0006.01)
Instrument (M973.300.1 b-o)
Nail (2005.0037.0013)
Report Card (2006.0017.00011)
Sewing Kit (2008.0001.0002)
Statue (1985.0107.004KX)
Typewriter (2021.005.001)
Wood (2021.999.033)
Related vessels
St. Roch