1902
November
Robert Scott, Edward Wilson and Ernest Shackleton make the first attempt
to reach the South Pole. They covered over 700 miles and reached a latitude of
82 degrees south before being forced to turn back.
1908
April
Great Britain's Ernest Shackleton, Frank Wild, Eric Marshall and Jameson
Adams begin their attempt to reach the South Pole. Only 112 miles from the
Pole, in poor health and near starvation, they are forced to cut short their
quest.
1909
January
Edgeworth David, Douglas Mawson and Alistar McKay reach the South
Magnetic Pole.
April
Robert Peary, having started his dash to the North Pole a month earlier,
reaches his destination on April 6th.
1911
December
Norwegian Roald Amundsen, along with four others, arrives at the South
Pole.
1912
January
Englishmen Robert Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Edgar Evans and
Lawrence Oates reach the South Pole. Scott's log of the event reads, "Great
God! This is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have laboured to it
without the reward of priority."
March
Scott, Wilson, and Bowers die on their return journey. They were only 11
miles from the next depot spot where provisions were awaiting them.
1915
October
Determined "to start a last great journey" Ernest Shackleton attempts to
cross Antarctica. Shackleton never reaches the continent, however. His ship,
"The Endurance, " is stuck in a Weddell Sea ice pack for 281
days before finally being crushed. Shackleton and crew were able to escape the
doomed vessel and take refuge on Elephant Island.
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