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
Joined at the rank of ‘Boy’ at 16
First Mate at 18
Full Master at 24
Appointed to National Antarctic Expedition (NEA) 1901
Three Expeditions to South Pole
Discovery Expedition
Nimrod Expedition 1907
Endurance Expedition

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 Caird to South Georgia Island
Four months after James Caird launched, party was rescued
All survived
Shackleton and a Five Man team began 800 mile journey on James Caird to South Georgia Island
29 mile Trek across uncharted interior towards whaling station
Multiple Failed attempts to reach party

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