1904 5th January
Discovery Expedition
The relief ship Morning returned, this time with a second ship, the Terra Nova.
Antarctic exploration · permanent subject timeline
Robert Falcon Scott
Leader of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–1913. This page combines historical context with 22 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Terra Nova archive.
Historical context
Robert Falcon Scott: overview and significance
What happened?
Royal Navy officer Robert Falcon Scott planned and led the Terra Nova Expedition after previously commanding the Discovery Expedition. He directed the scientific and geographical programme and led the final party to the South Pole.
Why was it important?
Scott became one of the best-known figures in Antarctic history. His leadership, journals, death on the return journey and the expedition's scientific work have remained subjects of historical study and debate.
World History Database records
Robert Falcon Scott timeline
The records below are selected from the 89-record Terra Nova archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1904
1904 14th February
Discovery Expedition
Most of the ice suddenly broke up, and Morning and Terra Nova are at last able to sail alongside Discovery.
1909
1909 September
Terra Nova Expedition Planning
Develops plans for a new British Antarctic expedition.
1910
1910 1st June
Terra Nova Leaves London
Terra Nova leaves London at the start of Scott's Antarctic expedition.
1910 15th June
Terra Nova Expedition
Terra Nova leaves Cardiff carrying Scott's British Antarctic Expedition toward the Ross Sea.
1910 15th August
Cape Town Call
Terra Nova calls at Cape Town during the voyage south.
1910 2nd September
Cape Town Departure
Terra Nova departs Cape Town for Australia and New Zealand.
1910 2nd September
Scott Joins Terra Nova
Scott joins Terra Nova before the expedition continues from Cape Town.
1910 29th November
New Zealand Departure
Terra Nova leaves New Zealand for Antarctica.
1910 9th December
Antarctic Pack Ice Entered
Terra Nova enters the Antarctic pack ice and begins a prolonged struggle through heavy floes.
1910 30th December
Antarctic Pack Ice Cleared
Terra Nova clears the prolonged pack-ice barrier after about twenty days of slow progress.
1910 30th December
Terra Nova Clears Pack Ice
Terra Nova finally emerges from prolonged pack ice near Antarctica.
1910 December
Pack Ice Delay
Terra Nova battles heavy pack ice in the Ross Sea.
1910 December
Severe Southern Ocean Storm
Terra Nova encounters a severe storm while sailing south from New Zealand.
1910 December
Terra Nova Storm Damage
The overloaded ship suffers flooding and serious difficulties during the storm.
1910
Pack Ice Delay
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.
1910
Terra Nova Expedition Funding
Scott completes a funding campaign combining government grants, private donations and subscriptions to finance the British Antarctic Expedition.
1910
Terra Nova Hut Trial
The prefabricated winter hut is trial-erected at Lyttelton, allowing construction faults to be corrected before departure for Antarctica.
1911
1911 2nd January
Mount Erebus Sighted
Scott records Mount Erebus in sight as Terra Nova approaches Ross Island.
1911 4th January
Winter Quarters Established
Cape Evans becomes the principal base of the Terra Nova expedition.
1911 22nd June
Terra Nova Winter Celebration
Maintains morale during the Antarctic winter before the southern journey.
1913
1913 10th February
News of Polar Party Losses
The world was informed of the tragedy when Terra Nova reached Oamaru, New Zealand.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Terra Nova records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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