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In January 1773, Captain James Cook crosses the Antarctic circle and circumnavigates Antarctica, though he doesn't sight land
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1819 - 21
Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen a Russian naval officer in the Vostok and Mirny circumnavigates the Antarctic, the first to cross the Antarctic circle since Cook. He made the fist sighting of the continent on the 27th January 1820. -
February the 7th 1821. First known landing on continental Antarctica by American sealer Captain John Davis
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British whaler James Weddell discovers the sea named after him and then reaches the most southerly point at that time 74° 15' S in 1823.
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Separate British, French and American expeditions establish the status of Antarctica as a continent after sailing along the continuous coastline.
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Adrien de Gerlache and the crew of the "Belgica" become trapped in pack ice off the Antarctic Peninsula in the first scientific expedition to the continent in March 1898. They become the first to survive an Antarctic winter
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Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition that landed men at Cape Adare and built huts in 1899
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In 1901 Captain Scott from the UK, leads his first Antarctic expedition to try and reach the South Pole, with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson. They are forced to turn back two months later having reached 82 degrees south, suffering from snow blindness and scurvy.
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1907 - 1909 Ernest Shackleton leads an expedition to within 156km / 97mls of the South Pole, turns back after supplies are exhausted.
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January 1909 Australian Douglas Mawson reaches the South Magnetic Pole.
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In 1911 Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time.
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Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole in 1912 to discover he has been beaten by Amundsen. All of the five man team (Scott, Bowers, Evans, Oates and Wilson), are to perish on the return journey only 11 miles from supply depot. Bodies are not discovered until November.
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Douglas Mawson begins his trek in 1912 across George V Land back to his base at Commonwealth Bay. His two companions had died, and against the odds he makes it home. A new section of coast is discovered and described, and radio is used for the first time in Antarctica.
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In 1915 Ernest Shackleton returns to Antarctica in an attempt to complete the first crossing of the continent. The goal is not attained, but one of the greatest adventures of all time follows. Their ship is crushed in the sea ice and a small party sets out for South Georgia and the whaling station. The party is eventually rescued in 1917.
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In 1961 the Antarctic treaty comes into effect.
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In 1928 Australian Sir George Wilkins and American Carl Benjamin Eielson are the first to fly over Antarctica around the peninsula region.
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In 1929 Richard E. Byrd and three others - US - become the first to fly over the South Pole.
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1935 Lincoln Ellsworth from the US flies across the continent. Caroline Mikkelsen from Norway, is the first woman to set foot on Antarctica when she accompanies her husband, a whaling captain.
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1947 Operation Highjump (US) sends the largest ever expedition of over 4700 men, 13 ships and 23 airplanes to Antarctica. Most of the coast is photographed for map making.
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In 1956 US aircraft lands at South Pole. First people there since Scott and his team in 1912.
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1st July 1957 - 31st Dec 1958 International Geophysical Year (IGY) 12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica. The beginning of international cooperation in Antarctica and the start of the process by which Antarctica becomes "non-national".
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1st July 1957 - 31st Dec 1958 The first successful land crossing via the South Poleis led by British geologist Vivian Fuchs with New Zealander Edmund Hillary leading the back up party, over 40 years after Shackleton's expedition set out with the same aim.
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Twelve countries active in Antarctic scientific research signed The Antarctiv Treaty on the 1st December 1959.
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In 1997 Boerge Ousland (Norway) becomes first person to cross Antarctica unsupported. Taking 64 days from Berkner Island to Scott base towing a 180kg (400lb) sled and using skis and a sail.
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March 2007 - March 2009 International Polar Year - Actually Spans two years in order that researchers get the opportunity to work in both polar regions or work summer and winter if they wish.
