Antarctica History Timeline

Jan 20, 1773

James Cook passes Antarctica

When James Cook was sailing around to Australia he passed through the Antarctic Circle. He did not see any land but he saw icebergs floating around, he made no move to explore further South and said "I make bold to declare that the world will derive no benefit from it." How wrong he was.

Feb 7, 1821

The First known Landing on Antarctica

Captain John Davies claims to have made the first continental landing on Antarctica but not all historians agree with this as he did not have much proof.

Jun 1, 1823

James Weddell ventures into the Weddell Sea

James Weddell went into the Weddell Sea and came the closest to Antarctica traveling through the Weddell Sea until 40 years later when his record was beaten. The Weddell Sea is now named after him (Suprise, Suprise!).

Jan 27, 1840

James Clarke Ross almost reaches Antarctica

James Clark Ross discovers Mount Erebus And Mt Terror and he named them after his ships. He almost made it to Antarctica but was blocked by an ice shelf (later called the Ross Ice Shelf).

Jul 10, 1901

Robert Falcon Scott leads the first expedition to the South

Robert Falcon Scott tried to reach the South Pole with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson, but had to turn back due to scurvy and frostbite.

Sep 4, 1909

Douglas Mawson reaches the Magnetic South Pole

Douglas Mawson was asked to join in an expedition with Shackleton but Douglas refused because he was planning his own expedition to locate the Magnetic South Pole. The expedition was a succes and he found lots of scientific information.

Dec 14, 1911

Roald Amundsen reaches the South Pole

Roald Amundsen was in a race against Scott to reach the South Pole, Roald Amundsen and four other crew members were first.

Oct 15, 1915

Ernest Shackleton starts his expedition to cross Antarctica

Ernest Shackleton wanted to be the first person to cross Antarctica, so he led a crew on the Endurance to Antarctica.

Jul 7, 1917

Ernest Shackleton ends his journey

Although Shackleton did not complete his journey (to cross Antarctica) he led his crew out of Antarctica with optimism and hope, which is why he is praised.

Dec 1, 1958

12 countries have 60 reasearch Stations on Antarctica

12 countries have claimed segments of Antarctica for their own, but there is still some unclaimed land. Australia has 4 research stations on Antarctica and has clamed 46%.

Jul 1, 1961

The Antarctic Treaty is put into action

The Antarctic Treaty is aTreaty signed by the 12 countries that have research stations on (wait for it) Antarctica. The Treaty states that:
A. Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only
B. Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end shall continue
C. Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available