Robert Falcon Scott Biography

Birth of Robert Falcon Scott

Scott passes out of Britannia as a midshipman, seventh overall in a class of 26

Scott attends the Royal Naval College at Greenwich

Scott attends the Royal Naval College at Greenwich

Passes his examinations for Sub-Lieutenant, with four First Class certificates out of five

Appointed Lieutenant

The British National Antarctic Expedition, later known as the Discovery Expedition, was a joint enterprise of the RGS and the Royal Society

The British National Antarctic Expedition, later known as the Discovery Expedition, was a joint enterprise of the RGS and the Royal Society. Scott appears at the Markham residence and volunteered to lead the Discovery Expedition

The British National Antarctic Expedition, later known as the Discovery Expedition, was a joint enterprise of the RGS and the Royal Society

The British National Antarctic Expedition, later known as the Discovery Expedition, was a joint enterprise of the RGS and the Royal Society

Scott is given overall command, and is promoted to the rank of Commander before Discovery sailed for the Antarctic

Scott is given overall command, and is promoted to the rank of Commander before Discovery sailed for the Antarctic. Despite an almost total lack of Antarctic or Arctic experience within the 50-strong party, there was very little special training in equipment or techniques before the ship set sail

The Discovery sets sail from the Isle of Wight

Discovery sails from Cowes on the British National Antarctic Expedition under Scott's command

The Discovery arrives in New Zealand

The Discovery sets sail from Lyttleton, New Zealand

The second year showed improvements in technique and achievement, culminating in Scotts western journey which led to the discovery of the Polar Plateau

The second year showed improvements in technique and achievement, culminating in Scotts western journey which led to the discovery of the Polar Plateau

The Discovery arrives at Cape Adare

The Discovery follows the Barrier to its eastern extremity where, on 30 January, the land predicted by Ross was confirmed, and named King Edward VII Land

The Discovery follows the Barrier to its eastern extremity where, on 30 January, the land predicted by Ross was confirmed, and named King Edward VII Land

Scott lands on the Barrier and unpacks an observation balloon which he had acquired for aerial surveys

The Discovery enters McMurdo Sound and later that day anchors in a spot near its southern limit which was afterwards christened Winter Quarters Bay. Of the entire party, none were skilled skiers and only Bernacchi and Armitage had any experience with dog-sledges. The results of the mens early efforts to master these techniques were not encouraging, and tended to reinforce Scotts preference for man-hauling

The Discovery enters McMurdo Sound and later that day anchors in a spot near its southern limit which was afterwards christened Winter Quarters Bay

Scott, Wilson and Shackleton left on 2 November 1902 with dogs and supporting parties. Their goal was "to get as far south in a straight line on the Barrier ice as we can, reach the Pole if possible, or find some new land"

With Shackleton and Wilson reaches a farthest south of about 82 degrees 17 minutes south before turning back

Scotts team reaches the furthest south so far at 82 degrees 17S

The party reached Discovery on 24 December, after a round trip of seven hundred miles covered in 59 days. Their daily average of over 14 miles on this man-hauling journey was significantly better than that achieved with dogs on the previous seasons southern journey, a fact which further strengthened Scotts prejudices against dogs

Appointed Captain

Appointed Captain

Awarded the Legion of Honour

Invited to Balmoral for investiture by King Edward VII as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

The relief ship Morning returned, this time with a second ship, the Terra Nova.

Most of the ice suddenly broke up, and Morning and Terra Nova are at last able to sail alongside Discovery.

The Discovery begins the return journey to New Zealand

Scott was quickly promoted to Captain, and invited to Balmoral Castle to meet King Edward VII, who invested him as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

Scott was quickly promoted to Captain, and invited to Balmoral Castle to meet King Edward VII, who invested him as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

The Discovery Expedition reports King Edward VII Land, the Polar Plateau, the Dry Valleys, Cape Crozier's emperor penguin colony and extensive coastal and mountain surveys

Publishes Discovery Expedition results including fossil evidence that helps link Antarctica with the Gondwana super-continent

During the Discovery Expedition it was established that Ross Island is an Island

On its return to Britain the expeditions reception was initially muted. Markham was present to meet the ship in Portsmouth when Discovery docked there on 10 September 1904, but no dignitaries greeted the party when it arrived in London a few days later

Scott was given leave from the Navy to write the official expedition account, The Voyage of the Discovery; this was published in 1905

Scott was given leave from the Navy to write the official expedition account, The Voyage of the Discovery; this was published in 1905

Appointed Flag-captain to Rear-Admiral George Egerton on HMS Victorious

Promotes scientific research and a South Pole attempt.

Promotes scientific research alongside an attempt on the South Pole.

Develops plans for a new British Antarctic expedition.

So far as transport was concerned, he decided that dogs would be one element in a complex strategy that also involved horses and motor sledges, and much man-hauling.

On its journey from New Zealand to the Antarctic, Terra Nova was trapped in pack ice for 20 days far longer than other ships had experienced, which meant a late-season arrival.

It was the expressed hope of the RGS that this expedition would be "scientific primarily, with exploration and the Pole as secondary objects"

It was the expressed hope of the RGS that this expedition would be "scientific primarily, with exploration and the Pole as secondary objects".

In his expedition prospectus, Scott stated that its main objective was "to reach the South Pole, and to secure for the British Empire the honour of this achievement".

Scott completes a funding campaign combining government grants, private donations and subscriptions to finance the British Antarctic Expedition.

The prefabricated winter hut is trial-erected at Lyttelton, allowing construction faults to be corrected before departure for Antarctica.

The expedition begins its outward voyage toward Antarctica.

Terra Nova leaves London at the start of Scott's Antarctic expedition.

Terra Nova leaves Cardiff carrying Scott's British Antarctic Expedition toward the Ross Sea.

Terra Nova calls at Cape Town during the voyage south.

Terra Nova departs Cape Town for Australia and New Zealand.

Scott joins Terra Nova before the expedition continues from Cape Town.

Scott did not know that he would be in a race until he received Amundsens telegram in Melbourne.

Scott receives Amundsen's telegram announcing Fram is bound for Antarctica.

Scott receives Amundsen's telegram in Melbourne and learns that the Norwegian expedition is also attempting the South Pole.

The message reveals that Amundsen will also attempt the South Pole.

Reaches Melbourne and learns of Amundsen's southern plans.

Terra Nova leaves New Zealand for Antarctica.

Terra Nova battles heavy pack ice in the Ross Sea.

Terra Nova encounters a severe storm while sailing south from New Zealand.

The overloaded ship suffers flooding and serious difficulties during the storm.

Terra Nova enters the Antarctic pack ice and begins a prolonged struggle through heavy floes.

Terra Nova clears the prolonged pack-ice barrier after about twenty days of slow progress.

The delay has cost the expedition valuable time and supplies.

Terra Nova finally emerges from prolonged pack ice near Antarctica.

Scott examines Cape Crozier as a possible base location but abandons the site before establishing winter quarters farther west.

Establishes the expedition hut on Ross Island.

Scott records Mount Erebus in sight as Terra Nova approaches Ross Island.

Construction begins on the expedition's main hut at Cape Evans.

Lands the shore party and stores at Cape Evans.

Scott renames the selected winter-quarters site Cape Evans in honour of expedition second-in-command Edward Evans.

Scott selects the west Ross Island site that becomes the expedition's main winter station.

Cape Evans becomes the principal base of the Terra Nova expedition.

One of the expedition's three motor tractors is lost through sea ice during the unloading operation at Cape Evans.

Scott records that the expedition is effectively landed with its essential stores ashore at Cape Evans.

Scott inspects the old Discovery hut at Hut Point.

He finds the building heavily filled with snow and ice.

The main expedition hut at Cape Evans is completed.

The shore party moves into the completed Cape Evans hut and begins organised winter-quarters life.

The shore party now has permanent winter accommodation.

Depot work supports the coming polar attempt.

Scott establishes One Ton Depot at about 79 degrees 29 minutes south.

One Ton Depot is established on the Ross Ice Shelf during the 1911 depot-laying journey.

The depot is placed north of the originally intended latitude.

The wintering party marks Scott's birthday with a special meal and cake while preparations continue for the southern journey.

Leads the expedition's Midwinter Day observance at Cape Evans.

Scott and the wintering party mark Midwinter Day with decorations and a special dinner at Cape Evans.

Maintains morale during the Antarctic winter before the southern journey.

Prepares sledges, ponies, dogs and depots for the southern march.

Scott completes detailed plans for the southern journey after checking transport and provisioning arrangements.

Uses ponies to move supplies during the southern journey.

Sets out from Cape Evans on the main southern journey toward the South Pole

Motor, pony, dog and man-hauling groups support the advance.

Begins the main journey toward the South Pole.

Begins the main southern journey toward the South Pole.

The march south begins on 1 November 1911 with motor, dog and pony groups hauling loaded sledges at different rates along the planned route.

Scott's transport groups are arranged to provide staged support for the smaller party that will eventually continue toward the South Pole.

Scott's southbound party reaches One Ton Depot and rests the ponies before continuing.

A prolonged blizzard halts the southbound parties and consumes precious time and supplies.

Scott records worsening concern as the blizzard prevents travel and pony fodder runs short.

Scott's travelling parties reach the foot of the Beardmore Glacier, ending the pony stage and beginning the climb toward the Polar Plateau.

The expedition reaches the foot of the Beardmore Glacier after the difficult Barrier stage.

Begins the ascent from the Barrier toward the polar plateau.

Scott's remaining parties begin man-hauling their sledges up the Beardmore Glacier.

Scott takes photographs during the glacier stage, adding his own images to the expedition's visual record.

Scott's parties encounter difficult crevassed ice while climbing toward the polar plateau.

Chooses a five-man party for the final polar march.

Scott announces his decision: five men (Scott, Edward Wilson, H. R. Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans) would go forward to the South Pole.

The party discovers that Amundsen's Norwegian team arrived first.

Reaches the South Pole and finds that Amundsen's Norwegian party has arrived first

Reaches the South Pole after Amundsen's party.

Reaches the South Pole with Wilson, Bowers, Oates and Edgar Evans.

Scott's five-man party reaches the South Pole on 17 January 1912 and discovers that Roald Amundsen's Norwegian party has arrived first.

Scott examines Amundsen's tent and the records left by the Norwegian polar party before turning north.

Finds Amundsen's tent and evidence of Norwegian success.

The Polar Party begins the roughly 800-mile return journey from the South Pole on 18 January.

Scott falls into a crevasse while descending toward the Beardmore Glacier and continues after being recovered.

Scott records Oates leaving the tent during a blizzard after weeks of worsening frostbite and exhaustion.

Scott records Oates's farewell before Oates, badly weakened and scarcely able to walk, leaves the tent during a blizzard and walks to his death.

Scott records serious frostbite in his right foot as the three survivors approach One Ton Depot.

After walking a further 20 miles, the three remaining men made their final camp on 19 March, 11 miles (18 km) short of One Ton Depot, but 24 miles (38 km) beyond the original intended location of the depot.

Dies with Wilson and Bowers near One Ton Depot.

Writes his final diary entry near One Ton Depot.

Scott writes his final diary entry while the surviving polar party remains trapped by a blizzard near One Ton Depot.

Scott, Wilson and Bowers die in their tent soon afterward.

Their final camp became their tomb; a high cairn of snow was erected over it, topped by a roughly fashioned cross. The bodies of Scott and his companions were discovered by a search party on 12 November 1912 and their records retrieved

The bodies of Scott and his companions were discovered by a search party on 12 November 1912 and their records retrieved.

Scott's diaries are published posthumously.

The world was informed of the tragedy when Terra Nova reached Oamaru, New Zealand.