Robert Falcon Scott

Captain Robert Falcon Scott was a British Royal Navy officer who explored the Antarctic regions. He led two big trips to Antarctica: the Discovery expedition from 1901 to 1904, and the Terra Nova expedition from 1910 to 1913.

On his first trip, Scott went farther south than anyone before him and found a big flat area called the Antarctic Plateau, where the South Pole is. On his second trip, Scott and a small group reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, but they arrived just a few weeks after another explorer named Amundsen's South Pole expedition. Sadly, on their way back, they couldn't meet up with the support teams as planned, and they died not too far from their base camp.

Even though Scott faced hard times during his trips, he became a famous hero after his death. People built memorials for him all over the UK. Later, when people learned more about the very cold weather and found Scott's old instructions, they started to think more positively about his leadership.

Early life

Scott was born on 6 June 1868, the third of six children. His father was a brewer, and his mother was Hannah Scott. The family had a history of service in the army and navy. Scott went to a local school and then to Stubbington House School to prepare for the navy. At age 13, he joined the naval training ship HMS Britannia at Dartmouth.

In 1883, Scott became a midshipman and served on several ships, including HMS Boadicea in South Africa. He met Clements Markham, who later became important in his career. Scott passed his exams and was promoted to lieutenant in 1889. He took a torpedo training course and did well, though he made a small mistake in 1893 by running a boat aground. Later, financial problems affected his family when his father lost money and had to take a new job. When his father died and his brother passed away, Scott had to help support his family. He was concerned about getting promotions in the navy to earn more money. In 1899, he met Markham again, who told him about an upcoming Antarctic expedition. Scott wanted to lead this expedition for the chance to command and stand out.

Discovery expedition, 1901–1904

Main article: Discovery Expedition

The British National Antarctic Expedition, also called the Discovery Expedition, was a big adventure led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott. It was a joint effort between the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society. Scott was chosen to lead the group, and he was promoted to commander before the ship, Discovery, left for the Antarctic on August 6, 1901. King Edward VII even visited the ship before it departed.

The team did not have much experience with cold, icy waters, and they did not have special training before leaving. They brought dogs and skis, but the dogs got sick during the first season. Scott was very impressed with the dogs and used some of them for food to help the others go farther. Sadly, one member of the team, George Vince, died when he slipped and fell during a blizzard.

The expedition had goals for both science and exploration. One big goal was to travel far south toward the South Pole. Scott, along with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson, traveled to a point about 530 miles from the pole. Later, Scott made another journey and discovered the Polar Plateau, a wide, flat area near the South Pole. The team also made important discoveries about plants, animals, and rocks. At the end of the expedition, two extra ships helped free Discovery from the ice where it was stuck.

Between expeditions

Discovery returned to Britain in September 1904. The expedition captured people's imaginations, and Scott became a popular hero. He received many awards and was promoted to captain. He visited Balmoral Castle and was made Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by King Edward VII.

Scott’s next few years were very busy. He gave talks, wrote a book about the expedition called The Voyage of the Discovery, and resumed his naval career in January 1906. He served as an assistant director of Naval Intelligence at the Admiralty and later as flag-captain to Rear-Admiral Sir George Egerton on HMS Victorious.

In early 1906, Scott learned that explorer Ernest Shackleton planned his own Antarctic expedition near Discovery’s old base at McMurdo Sound. Scott felt this area was his own “field of work” and asked Shackleton to choose a different location. After some discussion, Shackleton agreed to work east of the 170°W meridian but later had to land near the old Discovery base at Cape Royds when other options failed.

Scott met sculptor Kathleen Bruce in 1907. After a romantic chase, they married on 2 September 1908. Their son, Peter Markham Scott, was born in 1909 and later helped start the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Terra Nova expedition, 1910–1913

Main article: Terra Nova Expedition

Preparation

Captain Scott wanted to lead a second trip to Antarctica after his first one. He began planning in 1909 and took a job in London that helped him prepare. In December 1910, he started leading the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, called the Terra Nova expedition after its ship, Terra Nova.

Scott hoped this trip would be mostly for science, but its main goal was to reach the South Pole and make Britain proud. He believed he needed new ways to travel because pulling sleds by hand was too hard. He tried using motor cars on snow but they didn’t work well. So, he decided to use horses, dogs, and skis, along with some people walking. However, the horses he chose were not very strong for the cold and hard conditions.

First season

The ship Terra Nova left Cardiff, South Wales, in June 1910. It almost crashed into rocks.

Reputation

Recognition

When the ship Terra Nova arrived in New Zealand in February 1913, the world learned about the sad events of the expedition. Scott quickly became a national hero in Britain. People felt very proud, and many wanted to remember his story. The survivors of the expedition were honored with medals and promotions.

Modern reactions

Main article: Controversies surrounding Robert Falcon Scott

Further information: Comparison of the Amundsen and Scott expeditions

Over time, people have had different views about Scott. Some books and films showed him as a great leader, while others pointed out mistakes he made. In recent years, there has been a fresh look at his story, with some saying the harsh weather, not just his decisions, played a big role in what happened. Today, Scott is remembered for his brave attempts to explore the Antarctic, even as opinions continue to change about his leadership.