Difference between revisions of "Ernest Shackleton"

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(Created page with "thumb|Ernest Shackleton in 1909 Sir '''Ernest Henry Shackleton''' CVO OBE FRGS (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was a polar exp...")
 
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==''Discovery'' Expedition==
==''Discovery'' Expedition==
[[File:Discovery alongside Barrier.jpg|thumb|The Discovery anchored to the Great Ice Barrier]]
The National Antarctic Expedition, known as the Discovery Expedition after the ship ''Discovery'', was the brainchild of Sir Clements Markham, president of the Royal Geographical Society, and had been many years in preparation. It was led by [[Robert Falcon Scott]], a Royal Navy torpedo lieutenant lately promoted Commander, and had objectives that included scientific and geographical discovery.
The National Antarctic Expedition, known as the Discovery Expedition after the ship ''Discovery'', was the brainchild of Sir Clements Markham, president of the Royal Geographical Society, and had been many years in preparation. It was led by [[Robert Falcon Scott]], a Royal Navy torpedo lieutenant lately promoted Commander, and had objectives that included scientific and geographical discovery.


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According to steward Clarence Hare, he was "the most popular of the officers among the crew, being a good mixer", though claims that this represented an unofficial rival leadership to Scott's are unsupported. Scott chose Shackleton to accompany Wilson and himself on the expedition's southern journey, a march southwards to achieve the highest possible latitude in the direction of the [[South Pole]]. This march was not a serious attempt on the Pole, although the attainment of a high latitude was of great importance to Scott, and the inclusion of Shackleton indicated a high degree of personal trust.
According to steward Clarence Hare, he was "the most popular of the officers among the crew, being a good mixer", though claims that this represented an unofficial rival leadership to Scott's are unsupported. Scott chose Shackleton to accompany Wilson and himself on the expedition's southern journey, a march southwards to achieve the highest possible latitude in the direction of the [[South Pole]]. This march was not a serious attempt on the Pole, although the attainment of a high latitude was of great importance to Scott, and the inclusion of Shackleton indicated a high degree of personal trust.
 
[[File:Discovery Expedition field of work.png|thumb|Map of the Discovery Expedition field of work, including three routes of explorations undertaken by members of the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04 led by Robert Falcon Scott. RED line; Southern journey to Furthest South, November 1902 to February 1903. BLACK line; Western journey through Western Mountains to Polar Plateau, October–December 1903. BLUE line; Journeys to message point and Emperor Penguin colony at Cape Crozier, October 1902, September and October 1903.]]
The party set out on 2 November 1902. The march was, Scott wrote later, "a combination of success and failure". A record Farthest South latitude of 82° 17' was reached, beating the previous record established in 1900 by Carsten Borchgrevink. The journey was marred by the poor performance of the dogs, whose food had become tainted, and who rapidly fell sick. All 22 dogs died during the march. The three men all suffered at times from snow blindness, frostbite and, ultimately, scurvy. On the return journey, Shackleton had by his own admission "broken down" and could no longer carry out his share of the work.
The party set out on 2 November 1902. The march was, Scott wrote later, "a combination of success and failure". A record Farthest South latitude of 82° 17' was reached, beating the previous record established in 1900 by Carsten Borchgrevink. The journey was marred by the poor performance of the dogs, whose food had become tainted, and who rapidly fell sick. All 22 dogs died during the march. The three men all suffered at times from snow blindness, frostbite and, ultimately, scurvy. On the return journey, Shackleton had by his own admission "broken down" and could no longer carry out his share of the work.