Sir Ernest Shackleton

British, 1874 - 1922

BiographySir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) achieved fame as an Antarctic explorer. He achieved the furthest south record in 1907 by coming within 200kms of the South Pole before returning to safety. This record stood until the Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen reached the pole in 1911, closely followed by the ill-fated Robert Scott expedition in 1912.

Shackleton was a member of several Antarctic expeditions, the first being led by Robert Falcon Scott in 1901 where their relationship became acrimonious. It further deteriorated when Shackleton returned to Antarctica in 1907 in charge of his own expedition and he achieved the furthest south record in 1909. After the death of Scott and his team on his return from the South Pole, Shackleton once again returned to the continent in 1914. His ship was crushed in ice before being able to land the parties and Shackleton undertook the perilously trip from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island in a small open boat to enable the rescue of the rest of the crew. It is believed this trip undermined his health and on yet another expedition to Antarctica in 1922 he suffered a fatal heart attack en route and was buried in South Georgia.

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