Duncan, British National Antarctic Expedition

• MS 1415;D Journal, 4 October 1901 to 8 November 1902, holograph (Xerox)

The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) undertook the first extensive exploration on land in Antarctica. Funding came from the Government, the Royal Society, the Royal Geographical Society and private donations. The expedition set up base at McMurdo Sound while sledging parties carried out recognisance and scientific programmes. Scott made the fist balloon ascent on the continent in 1902. A three-man sledge party consisting of Scott, Ernest Henry Shackleton and Edward Adrian Wilson achieved a furthest south of 82.28° on 30 December 1902. The expedition ship, Discovery, commissioned and built especially for the expedition was beset in McMurdo Sound from 1902-1904.

Chronological.

See SPRI collection GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 for a fuller list of archival collections held by the Institute containing material relating to this expedition.