What undoubtedly cemented Shackleton’s place in Antarctic pioneering history, however, was his second mission. On his first mission, accompanied by revered Australian explorer Douglas Mawson, he made the first-ever ascent of Mt Erebus, the second-tallest peak in Antarctica. After being abruptly sent home from that mission (supposedly due to medical reasons) Shackleton organised his own expedition from Great Britain, much to Scott’s distress. Photo Credit: Getty ImagesĮrnest Shackleton was aboard the Discovery which took Scott toward the South Pole in 1901. Sir Ernest Shackleton waving goodbye as he departs for his final mission. Sir Ernest Shackleton, Great Britain – Expeditions: 1907-1909, 1914-1917 Curiously enough, Shirase had, much like Amundsen, set his sights on being the first man to reach the North Pole, but had also turned around once news reached him that the Americans had already bagged that trophy. Just before setting off to Antarctica for the second time (too late to beat either Scott or Amundsen by then) Shirase gifted Sir David a ceremonial Samurai sword, which is now on display at the Australian Museum in Sydney. It was here that he became friends with a fellow Australian Antarctic explorer, Sir Edgeworth David. On his first attempt, Shirase didn’t make much headway and was forced to spend a winter in Sydney in 1911 whilst preparing for a second attempt. At the same time that Amundsen and Scott were busy huffing and puffing their way south, a little-known Japanese expedition, led by polar-enthusiast Nobu Shirase, was quietly making achievements of its own accord. There aren’t many people who know that the famed Race to the South Pole actually had a third contender. Robert Falcon Scott, Great Britain – Expeditions of 1901-1904, 1910-1912 He had actually intended to be the first man to reach the North Pole, yet once he heard Americans had beaten him to it in 1909, he promptly made a U-turn and headed to the South Pole instead. True to his competitive nature, Amundsen’s fervent attention to the South Pole was a rather impromptu affair. Being Norwegian, he (and his team) were adapted to harsh conditions, were experienced skiers and knew the intricacies of using dog-led sleds. His advantages over the British explorer were not trivial. Amundsen beat Scott to the finish line by about a month (in December 1911) and was the much-celebrated winner of the Race. The famous Race to the South Pole of 1911, a competition to be the first to reach the elusive spot, saw two well known Explorers of Antarctica: Norwegian Roald Amundsen, and British Robert Falcon Scott. When it comes to Antarctic exploration, testosterone really has a lot to answer for. Sir James Clark Ross, Great Britain – Expeditions: 1839-1843 Here are The Most Famous Explorers of Antarctica. Yet while egos clashed, life-long friendships were formed, and a wealth of enthralling history was carved onto the Antarctic ice, these explorers irrevocably changed the course of human history. Most are famous, revered, and celebrated internationally, whilst others are barely known outside of their own home-countries. A few came in search of fame, financial glory, and perhaps a knighthood, whilst others were genuinely curious about what lay beyond. Some of the most influential pioneers of all time hailed from almost every corner of the globe. So who were these Explorers of Antarctica who set sails for the end of the world and froze where no man had ever frozen before? Photo credit: Shutterstock.Īntarctica may well continue to remain a mystery to us, yet everything we know so far about this utterly captivating place, we owe to but a handful of adventurous, brave, and testosterone-driven men.
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