Albert Armitage collection

The collection comprises of material relating to the Jackson-Harmsworth Arctic Expedition, 1894-1897 (leader Frederick George Jackson), the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) and correspondence by Armitage.

Albert Borlase Armitage was born in Scotland on 2 July 1864. He had been working for P&O for eight years when, in 1894 he joined the Jackson-Harmsworth Arctic Expedition, 1894-1897 (leader Frederick George Jackson) to Franz-Josef Land. Armitage was appointed second in command. The expedition lasted three years and Armitage took part in all the major sledging journeys. He conducted out a series of physical observations having undertaken training in meteorological and magnetic equipment prior to the expedition.

His experience gained him a place on the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott). Again he was appointed second in command and navigator on the Discovery. He led the first sledging party to penetrate and reach the Polar Plateau. After returning from Antarctica he worked his way up through the ranks of the merchant navy to become Commander of P&O Steam Navigation Company. He continued to write and lecture on polar exploration, while remaining in contact with polar explorers. He died on 31 October 1943.

Published work, Two years in the Antarctic, being a narrative of the British National Antarctic Expedition The Paradigm Press, Bluntisham Books, Bungay, England (1984) ISBN number 0950610453 SPRI library (7)91(08) [1901-1904] Cadet to Commodore, an autobiography, Cassell & Co. Ltd. London (1925) SPRI library 92[Armitage, A.B.)

The collection is split into three sub-fonds covering the Jackson-Harmsworth Arctic Expedition, 1894-1897 (leader Frederick George Jackson), the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) and correspondence by Armitage.

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Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with reference to 'Albert Borlase Armitage and appreciation' by Frank Debenham in The Polar Record, (July 1944) volume 4 number 28 p186-187 and (May 1985) volume 22 number 140 p511-518 and Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events,(1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN 0521309034

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue. Garland Publishing New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941

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