Editing Ernest Shackleton (section)

== ''Discovery'' Expedition, 1901–1903 ==
{{Main|Discovery Expedition}}
[[File:Discoveryboat.jpg|thumb|{{RRS|Discovery||2}} in Antarctic water|alt=A black-and-white photo of the ''Discovery''. Under the boat, people are pulling sleighs while canoes are lined up at the bottom of the photo.]]
The [[British National Antarctic Expedition]]—known as the ''Discovery'' Expedition after the ship ''Discovery''—was the brainchild of Sir Clements Markham, president of the [[Royal Geographical Society]], and had been many years in preparation.{{sfn|Barczewski|2007|p=25}} Led by [[Robert Falcon Scott]], a Royal Navy torpedo lieutenant lately promoted commander,{{sfn|Savours|2001|p=9}} the expedition had objectives that included scientific and geographical discovery.{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|pp=19–20}}

Although ''Discovery'' was not a Royal Navy unit, Scott required the crew, officers and scientific staff to submit to the conditions of the Naval Discipline Act, meaning that the ship and expedition were run on Royal Navy lines.{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|p=35}} Shackleton accepted this approach, even though his own background and instincts favoured a different, more informal style of leadership.{{sfn|Crane|2005|pp=171–172}} His particular duties were listed as: "In charge of sea-water analysis. Ward-room caterer. In charge of the holds, stores, and provisions&nbsp;[...] He also arranges the entertainments."{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|p=23}}

''Discovery'' departed from London's [[East India Docks]] on 31&nbsp;July 1901, arriving at the Antarctic coast, via [[Madeira]], Cape Town and New Zealand, on 9&nbsp;January 1902.{{sfn|Barczewski|2007|pp=30–31}} After landing, Shackleton took part in an experimental balloon flight on 4&nbsp;February.{{sfn|Wilson|1975|p=111}} He also participated, with the scientists [[Edward Wilson (explorer)|Edward A. Wilson]] and [[Hartley T. Ferrar]], in the first sledging trip from the expedition's winter quarters in [[McMurdo Sound]], a journey which established a safe route on to the [[Great Ice Barrier]].{{sfn|Wilson|1975|pp=115–118}} Confined to the iced-in ''Discovery'' throughout the Antarctic winter of 1902, Shackleton edited the expedition's magazine the ''[[South Polar Times]]'',{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|p=78}} a regular publication that kept everyone onboard entertained.{{sfn|Turley|1914|pp=79-80}} According to steward [[Clarence Hare]], Shackleton was "the most popular of the officers among the crew, being a good mixer",{{sfn|Huntford|1985|p=76}} though claims that this represented an unofficial rivalry to Scott's leadership are unsupported.{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|p=83}}

Scott chose Shackleton to accompany Wilson and himself on the expedition's southern journey, a march southwards to achieve the highest possible latitude in the direction of the South Pole. This was not a serious attempt on the Pole, although the attainment of a high latitude was of great importance to Scott, and the inclusion of Shackleton indicated a high degree of personal trust.{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|p=83}}{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|p=58}} The party set out on 2&nbsp;November 1902. Scott later wrote that the march was "a combination of success and failure".{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|p=104}} They reached a record [[Farthest South]] latitude of 82°17′&nbsp;S, beating the previous record established in 1900 by [[Carsten Borchgrevink]].{{efn|name=Farthest South}}{{sfn|Crane|2005|pp=214–215}}

The journey was marred by the poor performance of the dogs, who rapidly fell sick after their food had become tainted.{{sfn|Crane|2005|p=205}} All 22 dogs died during the march. The three men all suffered at times from [[snow blindness]], [[frostbite]] and, ultimately, [[scurvy]]. On the return journey, Shackleton had by his own admission "broken down" and could no longer carry out his share of the work.{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|pp=101–102}} He later denied Scott's claim in ''The Voyage of the Discovery'', that he had been carried on the [[sled]]ge.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=143–144}} He was in a severely weakened condition; Wilson's diary entry for 14&nbsp;January 1903 reads: "Shackleton has been anything but up to the mark, and today he is decidedly worse, very short-winded, and coughing constantly, with more serious symptoms which need not be detailed here, but which are of no small consequence a hundred and sixty miles from the ship, and full loads to pull all the way."{{sfn|Wilson|1975|p=238}}

The party finally arrived back at the ship on 3&nbsp;February 1903.{{sfn|Turley|1914|p=143}} After a medical examination that proved inconclusive,{{sfn|Preston|1997|p=68}} Scott decided to send Shackleton home on the relief ship {{SY|Morning||2}},{{sfn|Turley|1914|p=145}} which had arrived in McMurdo Sound in January. Scott wrote: "He ought not to risk further hardships in his present state of health."{{sfn|Preston|1997|p=68}} There is conjecture that Scott's motive for removing him was resentment of Shackleton's popularity, and that ill-health was used as an excuse to get rid of him.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=114–118}}

Years after the deaths of Scott, Wilson and Shackleton, the expedition's second-in-command [[Albert Armitage]] claimed that there had been a falling-out on the southern journey, and that Scott had told the ship's doctor that "[if] he does not go back sick he will go back in disgrace".{{sfn|Preston|1997|p=68}} There is no corroboration of Armitage's story. Shackleton and Scott remained on friendly terms, at least until the publication of Scott's account of the southern journey in ''The Voyage of the Discovery''.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=143–144}} While in public they appeared mutually respectful and cordial,{{sfn|Crane|2005|p=310}} according to biographer [[Roland Huntford]], Shackleton's attitude to Scott turned to "smouldering scorn and dislike"; salvage of wounded pride required "a return to the Antarctic and an attempt to outdo Scott".{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=143–144}}