Birth of Carsten Borchgrevink
Birth of Carsten Borchgrevink
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Carsten Borchgrevink Biography and Timeline
Follow Carsten Borchgrevink through 36 dated historical records for Norway.
Carsten Borchgrevink, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
36Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1864–1934Years on this page
1864
1894
Discovery of Antarctica
Joins the commercial expedition led by Henryk Bull in the whaler Antarctic, which penetrates Antarctic waters and reaches Cape Adare, the western portal to the Ross Sea
1895
Discovery of Antarctica
Lands at Possession Island, leaves a message in a canister to prove the visit, and records lichen, one of the first plant-life finds south of the Antarctic Circle
1st Antarctic Landing
Borchgrevinks party claim this as the first landing on the Antarctic mainland
Cape Adare Landing
Takes part in the landing at Cape Adare, later treated as the first confirmed landing on the Antarctic mainland
Discovery of Antarctica
Goes ashore with Bull, Kristensen and others at Cape Adare in what is widely treated as the first confirmed landing on the Antarctic mainland
Discovery of Antarctica
Collects rocks and lichens after the Cape Adare landing, strengthening his belief that the site can support a future overwintering base and inland exploration
British Antarctic Expedition
Newnes stipulated that Borchgrevinks expedition must sail under the British flag, and be styled the British Antarctic Expedition. Borchgrevink readily agreed to this, even though only two of the entire expedition party were British
Southern Cross Expedition
Newnes stipulated that Borchgrevinks expedition must sail under the British flag, and be styled the British Antarctic Expedition. Borchgrevink readily agreed to this, even though only two of the entire expedition party were British
1898
Southern Cross Expedition
Barrier's surface.
Southern Cross Expedition
It also pioneered the use of dogs and sledges in Antarctic travel. Borchgrevink purchases the whaling ship Pollux, renamed her Southern Cross, and had her fitted out for Antarctic service, the Southern Cross sails from London
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross Expedition, officially known as the British Antarctic Expedition 1898-1900, was the first British venture of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, and the forerunner of the more celebrated journeys of Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
Southern Cross Expedition
The brainchild of the Norwegian-born, half-British explorer and schoolmaster Carsten Borchgrevink, it was the first expedition to over-winter on the Antarctic mainland, the first to visit the Great Ice Barrier since James Clark Ross in 1839-43, and the first to effect a landing on the
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross left London on 23 August 1898, after inspection by HRH the Duke of York (the future King George V), who presented a Union Flag
1899
Southern Cross Expedition
Cape Adare is sighted
1st Antarctic Shore Base
Sets up the first ever shore base on the Antarctic continent, in the midst of a penguin colony, named "Camp Ridley" in honour of Borchgrevinks mother
Southern Cross Expedition
Unloading began on 17 February. First ashore were the 75 dogs, with their two Sami handlers, who remained with them and thus became the first men to spend a night on the Antarctic continent. Sets up the first ever shore base on the Antarctic continent, in the midst of a penguin colony, named "Camp Ridley" in honour of Borchgrevinks mother. Borchgrevink reaches Cape Adare
Camp Ridley
By 2 March the base, christened "Camp Ridley" after Borchgrevinks English mothers maiden name, was fully established, and the Duke of Yorks flag raised
Southern Cross Expedition
Establishes the Southern Cross Expedition base at Cape Adare, the first overwintering base on the Antarctic mainland
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross departs for New Zealand to winter there, leaving a shore party of 10 with their provisions, equipment and 70 dogs. By 2 March the base, christened "Camp Ridley" after Borchgrevinks English mothers maiden name, was fully established, and the Duke of Yorks flag raised
Discovery of Duke of York Island
Discovery of Duke of York Island, named after the expeditions patron
Overwintering
Leads the first expedition party to winter on the Antarctic mainland
Southern Cross Expedition
Discovery of Duke of York Island, named after the expeditions patron
1900
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross returned to Cape Adare from Australia
Southern Cross Expedition
When the Southern Cross returned at the end of January 1900, Borchgrevink decided to abandon the camp, although there were sufficient fuel and provisions left to last another year, sledging activity became possible, Borchgrevinks assumptions about an easy route to the interior proved false; the glaciated mountain ranges adjoining Cape Adare precluded any travel inland, restricting exploration to the immediate area around the cape
1st Great Barrier Landing
Instead of returning home the Southern Cross sailed south to the Great Ice Barrier, Ross had been unable to mke a landing so Borchgrevink discovered an inlet in the Barrier edge, the "Bay of Whales", Borchgrevink, William Colbeck and Per Savio make the first landing on the Barrier and travelled 10 miles (16 km) south to set a new Farthest South record at 78 degrees 50S
Farthest South
Travels south over the Barrier to about 78 degrees 50 minutes south, setting a new farthest south mark
Great Ice Barrier
Lands on the Great Ice Barrier and opens a route that later expeditions use toward the interior
Southern Cross Expedition
Instead of returning home the Southern Cross sailed south to the Great Ice Barrier, Ross had been unable to mke a landing so Borchgrevink discovered an inlet in the Barrier edge, the "Bay of Whales", Borchgrevink, William Colbeck and Per Savio make the first landing on the Barrier and travelled 10 miles (16 km) south to set a new Farthest South record at 78 degrees 50S
Discovery of Clements Markham Island
The Southern Cross proceeded southwards, following the Victoria Land coast and discovering further islands, one of which Borchgrevink named after Sir Clements Markham, whose hostility towards the expedition was evidently unchanged by this honour
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross proceeded southwards, following the Victoria Land coast and discovering further islands, one of which Borchgrevink named after Sir Clements Markham, whose hostility towards the expedition was evidently unchanged by this honour
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross visits other Ross Sea islands before turning for home, reaching New Zealand on 1 April 1900
Southern Cross Expedition
The party left Cape Adare in Southern Cross to explore the Ross Sea, following the route taken by Ross sixty years earlier. They reached the Great Ice Barrier, where a team of three made the first sledge journey on the Barrier surface, during which a new Farthest South record latitude was established at 78 degrees 50 mins S
1910
Discovery Expedition
Borchgrevink retained his interest in Antarctic matters, visiting Captain Scott shortly before the Terra Nova sailed on Scotts last Antarctic expedition.
1912
Discovery of Antarctica
Amundsen later pays tribute to Borchgrevink's pioneering work, saying that his ascent of the Barrier opened the way south
1934
Death of Carsten Borchgrevink
Death of Carsten Borchgrevink
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.