Robert Scott is a polar explorer, one of the first discoverers of the South Pole. The Royal Navy captain led two Antarctic expeditions, Terra Nova and Discovery.
During his second trip, Robert Falcon Scott managed to reach the South Pole, which was not marked on any map. However, researchers anticipating a triumph found that a few weeks earlier, on January 17, 1912, a Norwegian expedition visited it.
On the way to destination
The biography of the future polar explorer began in 1868. One of the most famous discoverers of the South Pole was born in Plymouth on June 6 in a large family. Of the seven children, Robert became the third. From birth, parents defined a naval career for their eldest son. For four years, the boy went to day school, then moved to Stubbington House School.
In Hampshire, cadets were trained for the country's naval training ship. The thirteen-year-old Scottish naval career began in 1881. In June 1883, the cadet received the rank of midshipman. In October, he was heading to South Africa to join the crew of the warship Boadicea, where he was to begin service in a new rank.
On board, Scott met with the Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, Clements Markham. He opened the young man a new world of research. Markem dreamed of going with a team of like-minded people to the Arctic Circle. Among the people interesting for the geographer was the young midshipman. March 1, 1887 Robert became the winner of the boat race among cadets.
A year later, the midshipman was a junior lieutenant, and then a lieutenant. In 1893 the course on torpedoing on the military ship "Vernon" was completed. In 1894, Scott received the full financial support of the family. Now promotion has become a necessity. The Royal Navy limited these opportunities.
In June 1899, in London, Scott met the president of the Geographical Society and received the knighthood of Markem. He suggested that the navigator lead an expedition to the pole. Consent has been obtained.
Fateful meeting
The joint project of the Royal Geographical and London Society for the Development of Knowledge of Nature "Discovery" was based on the participation of officers of the navy. Despite the recommendations on guiding the scientist’s journey, Scott received commander’s rights. King Edward the Seventh who visited the ship granted Robert the knighthood.
The course to Antarctica was taken on August 6, 1901. No one had any idea about the navigation rules and the particulars of landing on the icy continent. In research tasks was a long voyage to the South Pole.
The march roll ended far from the desired point. On the way back, the strength of one of the leaders of the expedition Ernest Shackleton was exhausted. He returned to England earlier than agreed upon with part of the team.
The next year, Discovery discovered the Southern Plateau. More than four hundred kilometers were traveled to the pole. Researchers realized that they were almost there. To save the ship from the ice, two rescue ships and a lot of explosives were required. The vessel alternately found itself in deep water, then aground. In September 1904, the team had to return to their homeland.
Scott has been honored with many high honors. The king made him commander of the Victorian Order. By the beginning of 1906, Robert began organizing a new journey. By that time, the officer had arranged his personal life. In early 1907, he met Caitlin Bruce, a talented sculptor.
Sea trips did not contribute to the successful development of relations, in addition, Robert was not the only fan of the girl. On September 2, 1908, young people officially became husband and wife. The only child appeared in the family, named Peter Markem Scott.
