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Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) -

Born in Ireland, Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is one of the major figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. He is also remembered for one of the most incredible feats of survival and endurance of the 20th century.

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Robert Falcon Scott (1868–1912) -

Shackleton's first experience of the polar regions was as a member of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Expedition of 1901–04. Pictured: Scott, himself a revered name in polar exploration.

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The Discovery Expedition of 1901–04 -

The expedition ship Discovery in the Antarctic, alongside the Great Ice Barrier.

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Going South -

During the expedition, Scott, Shackleton, and Edward A. Wilson took sleds to latitude 82°S, a new southern record in Antarctica at the time.

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Launch of career -

The Discovery Expedition launched the Antarctic career of Shackleton, seen here frostbitten but smiling with Scott and Wilson on February 3, 1903, on their return from the attempt to reach the South Pole.

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The Nimrod Expedition of 1907–1909 -

Shackleton was back in the region soon afterwards, this time leading the Nimrod Expedition.

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Attempt on South Pole -

Jameson Adams, Frank Wild, and Eric Marshall plant the Union Jack at their southernmost position, 88° 23', on January 9, 1909, just 180 km (97 mi) from the South Pole. The photograph was taken by Shackleton.

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Climbing high -

During the expedition, members of Shackleton's team also climbed Mount Erebus, the most active Antarctic volcano.

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Knighthood -

Wild, Shackleton, Marshall, and Adams aboard Nimrod after their southern journey. For his achievements, Shackleton was knighted by King Edward VII on his return home.

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Roald Amundsen (1872–1928) -

The race to the South Pole, however, ended in December 1911, with Roald Amundsen's conquest. Pictured is the Norwegian flag at the South Pole.

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The Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914–1917 -

Looking for a new challenge, Shackleton conceived an expedition to undertake the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent, which would require two ships: Endurance, skippered by Shackleton, and Aurora, captained by Aeneas Mackintosh.

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Endurance -

The three-masted barquentine Endurance, pictured in dry dock. Shackleton proposed a transcontinental march from Vahsel Bay on the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea via the South Pole. 

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Departure for the Antarctic -

Officers of the Endurance waving goodbye as the ship leaves Millwall Dock in London for the Antarctic.

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SY Aurora -

Pictured is the barque-rigged steam yacht called the SY Aurora. The ship took part in the rescue of the Ross Sea Party, which was supposed to meet Shackleton's expedition during the march. But events didn't turn out as planned.

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Trapped in ice -

This is because disaster struck Endurance before she reached Vahsel Bay, when the ship became wedged in pack ice, just 109 km (68 mi) from its destination.

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No way out -

Crew members worked fruitlessly to free the ship from the ice. But Endurance was ultimately held fast in pack ice throughout the winter of 1915.

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Abandon ship -

Drifting northwards and trapped by enormous ice floes, Endurance began to break up. On October 27, 1915, Shackleton gave the order to abandon ship. The wreckage eventually sank to the bottom of the Weddell Sea.

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Camping on the ice -

In frigid temperatures of −26°C (−15°F),  the crew set up camp on the ice. It would get much colder, and thoughts turned to survival. The expedition had failed, but an epic feat of endurance was about to commence.

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Finding a way out -

Shackleton's original idea was to march his stranded 26-man crew westward to Paulet Island, 557 km (346 mi) away. The company set out on October 30, 1915, with three of the ship's lifeboats carried on sledges.

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Taking to lifeboats -

After struggling to make progress in worsening conditions, the march was abandoned. The party established "Patience Camp" on a flat ice floe until the ice broke up. Taking to the lifeboats, the crew eventually made it to Elephant Island on April 15, 1916.

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Elephant Island -

Endurance crew members found a desolate refuge on Elephant Island. But Shackleton, realizing there was no chance of a rescue, made the decision to sail to South Georgia where he knew there were several whaling stations.

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The departure of the James Caird -

One of the lifeboats, James Caird, was adapted for the perilous 1,300 km (800 mi) voyage. Shackleton selected the boat party: himself, Frank Worsley as navigator, Tom Crean, Harry McNish, John Vincent, and Timothy McCarthy.

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Dangerous voyage -

The intrepid crew of six set sail from Elephant Island on April 24, 1916, waved off by the remaining crew members.

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Dreadful conditions -

Sailing in heavy seas and enduring severe gale force winds, the tiny boat pitched and rolled as it navigated through floating ice. Pictured is a depiction of the James Caird from Shackleton's expedition account, 'South.'

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Landing at South Georgia -

On May 10, 1916, they reached South Georgia, landing at Cave Cove near the entrance to King Haakon Bay to complete one of the greatest boat journeys ever accomplished.

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Rescue -

On May 18, Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean crossed the South Georgia Island interior (pictured) on foot to reach a whaling station at Stromness. It took another three months before Shackleton was able to achieve the relief of the men at Elephant Island.

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Death and burial site -

In 1921, Shackleton returned to Antarctica, leading another expedition. On January 5, 1922, he died suddenly of a heart attack on South Georgia Island. He is buried at Grytviken.

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James Caird Society -

In 1994, the James Caird Society was established, to honor the remarkable feats of discovery in the Antarctic and to commend the outstanding qualities of leadership associated with the name of Sir Ernest Shackleton. Pictured: the James Caird, preserved at Dulwich College in south London.

See also: The triumph and tragedy that is Mount Everest

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