9 Questions
Where was Ernest Shackleton born?
Ireland
What was the name of the ship led by Shackleton in the British Antarctic Expedition?
Nimrod
What was the goal of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition?
To make the first land crossing of Antarctica
What was the original purpose of the ship Endurance?
For Arctic cruising
When did the Endurance leave South Georgia?
December 5, 1914
What happened to the Endurance on January 19, 1915?
It was trapped and crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea
What was the name of the small boat that Shackleton and five men sailed to South Georgia?
James Caird
How many men were part of the crew when the Endurance left South Georgia?
28
When was the entire crew of the Endurance finally rescued?
August 30, 1916
Study Notes
Ernest Shackleton
Early Life and Career
- Born on February 15, 1874, in Kilcummin, Ireland
- Moved to England with his family at the age of 10
- Joined the merchant navy at 16 and worked his way up the ranks
- Joined the Royal Geographic Society's Discovery Expedition (1901-1904) led by Robert Falcon Scott
- Led the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-1909) on the ship Nimrod, reaching a new Farthest South latitude of 88° 23’ S
Antarctic Exploration
- Led three British expeditions to the Antarctic:
- British Antarctic Expedition (1907-1909) - reached a new Farthest South latitude of 88° 23’ S
- Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) - attempted to make the first land crossing of Antarctica
- Quest Expedition (1921-1922) - aimed to circumnavigate Antarctica, but was cut short due to Shackleton's death
Endurance Ship
- Built in 1912 in Norway as the Polaris, originally designed for Arctic cruising
- Renamed Endurance and purchased by Shackleton for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
- Left South Georgia on December 5, 1914, with a crew of 28
- Trapped and crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea on January 19, 1915
- Crew abandoned ship on October 27, 1915, and made a perilous journey to Elephant Island
- Shackleton and five men sailed 800 miles to South Georgia on the James Caird, a small boat, to get help
- The entire crew was eventually rescued on August 30, 1916, without loss of life
Test your knowledge of Ernest Shackleton's life, expeditions, and adventures in Antarctica. Learn about his early life, British expeditions, and the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition on the Endurance ship.
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