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Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton in 1917. Photo unattributed –

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts about Ernest Shackleton

It is always a parent鈥檚 wish that they would follow in their footsteps. Even if not get the parent’s title but do something in line with what the parents do. This was Ernest Shackleton鈥檚 father’s same wish.

Unfortunately, Shackleton chose a completely different path as he had other ideas in mind. It is these ideas that led him to join the merchant navy at the age of 16 years.

His life in the navy was pretty amazing as he was able to achieve quite a lot at a young age. One of the incredible things was that he became the first mate when he was 18 years and also managed to be a certified master mariner when he was 24 years of age.   

1. Shackleton鈥檚 early life

Studio Portrait of Ernest Shackleton. Photo unattributed –

Ernest Shackleton was born on 15th February 1874 in Kilkea House, County Kildare in Ireland. His father was from England and originally hailed from Yorkshire while his mother was an Irish woman.

The family moved to London when he was 10 years old. Although his father had high hopes that Young Ernest would become a doctor like he was, Shackleton instead develop a passion for the high seas.

This is when he joined the navy at a wee time of his life when he was just 16 years of age.

2. Ernest Shackleton was part of a big family

Sir Ernest Shackleton and wife. Photo by Bain News Service –

Not only today, but Ireland has always been known for having large families, and in this day and age, it is labeled as the third-highest fertility rate in Europe. The Anglo-Irish family of Shackleton was not the exception.

Shackleton鈥檚 parents had ten children and he came in as the second born. His father, Henry worked at Kilkea while his mother, Henrietta was descended from the Fitzmaurices, a family which had been in Kerry since the Norman times in the 13^th century.

The family of Shackleton鈥檚 mum was made of Abraham Shackleton, who was a Quaker from west Yorkshire. He came to Ballitore in County Kildare and started a school in 1726. Famous past pupils of the school include  Cardinal Paul Cullen, Edmund Burke, a famous political writer and orator, and James Napper Tandy, United Irishman.

3. Shackleton鈥檚 school life was an interesting experience 

Ernest Shackleton. Photo unattributed –

In 1880 when Ernest was six years of age, his father gave up farming and joined Trinity College Dublin where he qualified to be a doctor.

The family of Shackleton lived at 35 Marlborough Road in Dublin and in 1884 they moved to Sydenham in South London where Henry practised for 30 years.

After Shackleton attended school at Dulwich College as a day boy, he then joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 16 years.

After 10 years, he gave that up and joined a British Expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott to try and be the first to reach the South Pole.

4. The Discovery and Nimrod expeditions of Shackleton and his work life

Sir Ernest Shackleton sitting on board the Antarctic exploration vessel Aurora. Photo unattributed –

Shackleton entered the mercantile marine service in 1890 and he became a sublieutenant in the Royal Naval reserve in 1901.

It is then that he join Captain Robert Falcon Scott鈥檚 British National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition (1901-04) as the third lieutenant and took part, with Scott and Edward Wilson, in the sled journey over the Ross Ice Shelf when latitude 82 degrees 16鈥�33鈥� S was reached.

In the summer of 1901, the ship called The Discovery departed for the Antarctic. On 30^th December 1902 Scott, Shackleton, and Wilson reached within 400 miles of the South Pole, the furthest South yet achieved by anybody.

5. Shackleton鈥檚 love life and their children

Ernest Henry Shackleton, Irish explorer. Photo by Bain News Service –

In 1904 after his return home, he married his wife Emily Dorman whom he had three children with Raymond, Cecily, and Edward.

6. Ernest Shackleton鈥檚 health started to deteriorate while he was in the line of duty

Sir Edwin Pears; Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton foto. Photo unattributed –

Ernest鈥檚 health suffered, and he was removed from duty. He thereafter was sent home on the supply ship Morning in March 1903.

7. Shackleton came back to work and got a rise

Yours Truly, Ernest Shackleton, 1912. Photo by Cinema News –

In January 1908, he returned to Antarctica as a leader of the British Antarctic (Nimrod) Expedition (1907 -09). The expedition, prevented by ice from reaching the intended base site in Edward VII Peninsula wintered on Ross Island, McMurdo Sound.

8. He never stopped raising the ladder while in his Navy career

A commemorative postcard displaying Shackleton and his expeditions. Photo by Creative Commons –

Shackleton and his party set fire to the camp to signal the ship, which received the signal and returned to the camp a few days later, successfully retrieving them. On his return to England, Shackleton was knighted and was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

9. Shackleton also served in the British army during World War 1 and the Russian Civil War

Caricature of Ernest Shackleton. Caption read “The South Pole”. Photo by KITE –

Shackleton served in the British army during World War I and there he served as a military advisor in the multinational North Russia Expeditionary Force during the Russian Civil war.

He attempted yet another fourth Antarctic Expedition, abroad the Quest in 1921, which had the goal of circumnavigating the continent.

10. Shackleton鈥檚 last breath while still in the line of duty

Probably the last photograph of Shackleton, taken just before the final stages of his last expedition on board the S.S. Andes with his friend from the merchant navy, Arthur Porrett Dix, who was captain. Photo unattributed –

He died on 5^th January 1922 at Grytviken, South Georgia, however, at the outset of the journey. His exertions in raising funds to finance his expeditions themselves were believed to have worn out his strength.

Shackleton鈥檚 publications were The Heart of the Antarctic (1909) and South (1919), the latter an account of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition.