Ernest Shackleton, The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration and E ndurance

1. Ernest Shackleton, The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration and Endurance Jennifer Hoban, Jaime Nix, Federico Palacios & Phong Tong University of Central Oklahoma

2. Ernest Shackleton: The Man • Second of Ten Children • Oldest Son • Love of literature and the sea • Attentive, observant and intelligent • Married Emily Dorman at 28 • Eager to make a name for himself and family

3. Ernest Shackleton: The Career • Merchant Marines • 1890 - Joined at the rank of ‘Boy’ at 16 • 1892 - First Mate at 18 • 1898 - Full Master at 24 • Appointed to National Antarctic Expedition (NEA) 1901 • Three Expeditions to South Pole • Discovery Expedition 1901-04 • Nimrod Expedition 1907 • Endurance Expedition 1914-17

4. Ernest Shackleton – Expedition Discovery • 1901 Shackleton joined Robert Scott on a trek to the South Pole. • Scott and Shackleton clashed frequently • Did not meet objective, but pushed further than any previous expedition • Scott published Voyage of Discovery • Shackleton portrayed as point of failure • Shackleton began planning Expedition Nimrod

5. Ernest Shackleton – Expedition Nimrod • Determined to prove self-worth • Two years raising funds and securing endorsements • Two years sailing • Established the furthest south record of 97 geographic miles from Pole • Knighted by King Edward VII for this achievement

6. Reaching the South Pole: The Race for First • Fierce International Competition • Roland Amundsen of Norway won the race in 1911 • Prompted Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all. --Ernest Shackleton

7. Ernest Shackleton – Expedition Endurance • Crossing of Antarctica from Weddell Sea to Ross Sea • Many Obstacles • Funds • Supplies • Crew • Ships • Set Sail January 18, 1915 • Crew of 28

8. Funding the Endurance • Required $4.4M to $7M • Private and Public Investors Leery • Mission Deemed too Dangerous • Rumors of Physical Weakness

9. Rations and Supplies • Commission of Specialty Products • Composition Cake • 3000 calories a piece • Lime Juice Capsules • Vitamin C • Equipment and Clothing • Windproof Coats • Fur Lined Sleeping Bags • Sturdy tents

10. A Crew of Twenty-Eight • Candidates divided into categories of: Mad, Hopeless and Pathetic • Shackleton desired balance of personality and capability • Premium placed on Perseverance • Sought experienced North Sea Fishermen

11. Initial Trials and Unexpected Obstacles • Britain Declared War on Germany • Captain Incapable of Maintaining Discipline • Dog Sled Trainer Failed to Appear • Poor Credit • Ice Flows Further North than Expected

12. Endurance Antarctic Bound • August 8, 1914 • Leaves British Waters • December 5, 1914 • Departed South Georgia • January 10, 1914 • Spotted Antarctica • January 21, 1915 • Frozen in ice floe • October 27, 1915 • Abandoned Ship • November 1, 1915 • Established Permanent Camp • November 21, 1915 • Endurance Sinks

13. After Endurance • Lifeboats launched in search of land • Camp Established on Elephant Island • 800 mile journey on James Cairdto South Georgia Island • Four months after James Caird launched, party was rescued • All survived

14. The Endurance Voyage - What Went Wrong • Failure to properly assess risk factors • Lack of survival skill training • Failure to train sled dogs • Decision to sail despite northern ice floes

15. What Could Have Been Done Differently • Postpone the Expedition • More favorable sea conditions • Full and capable staff