William H. Gilder William H. Gilder. Born Aug. 16, 1838. The grandfather of W. H. Gilder was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, and laid the corner stone of Girard college, Philadelphia. Col. William Henry Gilder, the note arctic explorer, was born in Philadelphia, and enlisted as a private in the civil war. But during a large part of the war he served on the staff of Gen. Egan, and on being mustered out at its close, was brevetted major.
Gilder is no novice as regards arctic traveling.
Gilder's second voyage was on the Jeannette search expedition. It was during that search that he traveled across north Liberia, and for sixty-nine days was alone in that icy wilderness. The latter work has been translated into French. He returned at once to New York, which he quickly accomplished, having traveled over six thousand miles. He will now make the attempt on a whaling schooner.