Ernest Henry Shackleton Biography and Timeline

Birth of Ernest Shackleton

Ernest Shackleton is born at Kilkea House in County Kildare and later becomes one of the most prominent explorers of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Discovery Expedition Departure

Shackleton sails with Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery expedition as third officer, beginning his first Antarctic journey.

Role range: 1901-1903

Discovery Southern Journey

Shackleton joins Scott and Edward Wilson on a southern sledging journey that establishes a new furthest-south record before illness forces their return.

Role range: 1901-1903

Invalided Home from Discovery

Shackleton leaves the Discovery expedition early because of poor health and returns home aboard the relief ship Morning.

Role range: 1901-1903

Nimrod Expedition Departure

Shackleton departs on the British Antarctic Expedition aboard Nimrod, leading his first independently commanded attempt to approach the South Pole.

Role range: 1907-1909

Cape Royds Base Established

Shackleton's party establishes its Antarctic base at Cape Royds after sea ice prevents the expedition from using Hut Point.

Role range: 1907-1909

Great Southern Journey Begins

Shackleton leaves Cape Royds with Jameson Adams, Eric Marshall and Frank Wild on the expedition's main journey toward the South Pole.

Role range: 1907-1909

Farthest South Record

Shackleton's four-man party reaches 88 degrees 23 minutes south, setting a new furthest-south record before turning back because supplies are dangerously low.

Role range: 1907-1909

Nimrod Expedition Leaves Antarctica

Nimrod departs Antarctica with Shackleton's expedition after the southern party returns safely from its record-setting journey.

Role range: 1907-1909

Return to London after Nimrod

Shackleton returns to London to a public welcome after the Nimrod expedition's major geographical and scientific achievements.

Endurance Expedition Departure

Endurance leaves Plymouth under Shackleton's command to begin the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition and its planned crossing of Antarctica.

Role range: 1914-1917

Endurance Leaves South Georgia

Shackleton takes Endurance south from South Georgia toward the Weddell Sea, the intended starting region for the transcontinental crossing.

Role range: 1914-1917

Endurance Trapped in Pack Ice

Endurance becomes firmly trapped in Weddell Sea pack ice, preventing Shackleton from landing the transcontinental party on Antarctica.

Role range: 1914-1917

Endurance Abandoned

Shackleton orders the expedition to abandon Endurance after crushing pack ice damages the ship beyond any realistic possibility of recovery.

Role range: 1914-1917

Endurance Sinks

Endurance sinks beneath the Weddell Sea ice, leaving Shackleton and his men dependent on camps established on the drifting pack.

Role range: 1914-1917

Elephant Island Landing

Shackleton's entire party reaches Elephant Island by lifeboat, gaining solid ground after months living on drifting sea ice.

Role range: 1914-1917

James Caird Voyage Begins

Shackleton leaves Elephant Island with five companions in the James Caird to seek rescue assistance from South Georgia.

Role range: 1914-1917

Elephant Island Crew Rescued

Shackleton returns aboard the Chilean vessel Yelcho and rescues every member of the party left waiting on Elephant Island.

Role range: 1914-1917