George Borup (1885-1912), a dynamic figure in early 20th-century exploration, left an indelible mark despite his tragically short life. Born on September 2, 1885, in Ossining, New York, he possessed a keen interest in geology and paleontology, evidenced by his 1907 geology degree from Yale University. 

Initially working for the Pennsylvania Railroad, his passion for Arctic exploration led him to persuade Commander Robert Peary to include him in the 1908-1909 North Pole expedition aboard the S.S. Roosevelt. Borup's experiences during this journey were vividly recounted in his 1911 publication, A Tenderfoot with Peary, a firsthand account of his time in the Arctic.

Upon returning from the North Pole, Borup pursued a career at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), concurrently furthering his studies at Yale. In 1911, he joined the AMNH's geology department as a research assistant and, by December, was appointed Assistant Curator of geology and invertebrate paleontology. Driven by a desire to explore the elusive Crocker Land, reportedly sighted by Peary in 1905, Borup, alongside Donald MacMillan, proposed an expedition to the AMNH. This venture garnered support from both the AMNH and the Royal Geographical Society, with Borup and MacMillan designated as co-leaders.

Preparations for the Crocker Land Expedition, scheduled for a July 1912 departure, were well underway when tragedy struck. On 28 April 1912, Borup drowned in a boating accident in Long Island Sound, attempting to rescue a friend. This loss cast a shadow over the expedition. Initially, AMNH president Henry Fairfield Osborn considered cancellation, but after advocacy from Edmund Otis Hovey, the expedition committee, and George Borup's father, a one-year postponement was decided. The mission was then dedicated to Borup's memory, becoming the George Borup Memorial Expedition.

Despite the financial setbacks of rescheduling, including penalties from the Diana's charter cancellation, fundraising resumed. The expedition, now under MacMillan's sole leadership, proceeded in August 1913, establishing Borup Lodge as its base camp. 

In recognition of Borup’s contributions, a fjord on Ellesmere Island was named after him, and his legacy was permanently etched into the annals of Arctic exploration.