Mawson and Scott: The Great Antarctic Explorers

Robert Falcon Scott Was Born

Jun 6, 1868

Robert Falcon Scott was born to John and Hannah Scott in Outlands, Plymouth, England.

Robert Falcon Scott

Period: Jun 6, 1868 to Mar 29, 1916

Bibliography Of Robert Scott

Douglas Mawson Was Born

May 2, 1882

Douglas Mawson was born in Yorkshire, England but moved to Australia slightly after his birth.

Douglas Mawson

Period: May 2, 1882 to Oct 14, 1958

Bibliography Of Douglas Mawson

Scott joins HMS Boadicea

Aug 13, 1883

Scott boarded his first sea going vessle, he served as a shipman for 2 years. He earned about 30 pounds a year.

Scott Applied To Be The Commander Of The Antarctic Expedition

Jun 9, 1889

Scott met Clements Markham who told him about the planned Antarctica Expedition. Two days later he wrote applying to command it, he had no real urge to experience the ice, cold or adventure. The only reaseon he had applied was because he had grown restless in the navy,

Scott Is Appointed Commander Of The Antarctic Expedition

May 25, 1900

After putting in his application to become the commander, Scott went off on the HMS Majestic for almost a year before he recieved conformation of his role.

Scott Begins His Discovery Expedition To Antarctica

Jul 31, 1901

With much fanfare, Scott's Discovery Expedition was aunder way. Stopping briefly to correct it's compass it was off to Cape Town and then to Lyttleton, New Zealand before enbarcing apon their final leg of the trip to Antarctica.

Mawson Graduates From Sydney University

Nov 5, 1902

After studying Mining Engineering for two years at Sydney University, Mawson graduated and he was appointed as the head of the junior chemistry department.

Discovery Sails Home

Sep 10, 1904

After years of successful scientific research and exploration, the Discovery finally reached home after getting stuck in ice and having to be repared for two months in New Zealand.

Mawson Moves To Adelaide

Jan 15, 1905

Mawson was appointed as a lecturer of minerology and petrology at the University of Adelaide. It was here that he became interested in the glacial geology of South Australia, spurring his interest in Antarctica.

Mawson Joins The Nimrod Expedition

Jul 17, 1907

Ernest Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition (Nimrod Expedition for short) had signed Edgeworth David, a former lecturer of Mawson's sugested him for the expedition.

Mawson Reaches South Magnetic Pole

Jan 28, 1909

With his partner Mackay, Mawson was the first ever person to reach the 1909 South Magnetic Pole.

Nimrod Exoedition Comes To A Close

Jun 14, 1909

Shackleton arrived in London on the Nimrod at this date, no official date has been stated for when Mawson himself arrived back in Adelaide. After his return, Mawson returned to his work at the University.

Scott's Terra Nova Departs Cardiff

Jun 15, 1910

After marrying and having a child, his only son Peter Scott. Scott decided to go on another expedition. This was names The Terra Nova expedition and went to Cape Town, Melbourne and New Zealand before reaching Antarctice.

Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition Begins

Dec 7, 1911

Mawson first asked Scott whether he was able to take three men down to Antarctica on the Terra Nova, they were unable to do so. Scott asked Mawson to join the Terra Nova Expedition, Mawson declined as he was more interested in scientific exploration.

The Polar Party Reaches South Pole

Jan 17, 1912

It is registered that at 6:30pm Scott and his explorers reached the South Pole for the first time.

News Of Scott's Death Reaches London

Jan 11, 1913

After Scott, Bowers, Wilson, Evans and Oates were found dead by a search party on the 12th of November 1912 it finally reached London and their families the next year. They are thought to have died sometime around the 29th March 1912.

Mawson Finally Returns Home

Dec 4, 1913

On a trip to the far east of antarctica, one of the men on the expedition went missing on a sled down a crevise. After this, Mawson and his companion struggled to stay alive and ended up eating their dogs. Mertz died and by the time Mawson got back to the main base the boat had been and gone. Mawson and a small search team were stranded in Antarctica for a year longer than planned.

Mawson joins WW1

Mar 9, 1915

Mawson was knighted in 1914 for his efforts on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, he then applied to join the army and serve in a scientific capacity. He served for the country until the end of the war.

Mawson Dies In His Home

Oct 14, 1958

Mawson passed away after a cerebral haemorrhage in his home in South Australia. Between the war and his death Mawson returned to his employment at the Adelaide University.