The History of Antarctica - Significant Events

Captain Cook sails into the Antarctic peninsula

Jan 17, 1773

Captain Cook crosses the Antarctic peninsula, but never catches sight of Antarctica itself.

Edward Bransfield and William Smith saw the Antarctic Peninsula.

Jan 1, 1820

Rumoured to be the first people to see the Antarctic Peninsula

The first ever sighting of Antarctica

Jan 1, 1820

First sighting by Fabian Bellinghausen (Russian).

South Pole Expedition

Oct 27, 1820

Britain sent an expedition to the South Pole (the middle of Antarctica)

John Davis lands in Antarctica

Feb 1, 1821

John Davis becomes the first person to land on the continent of Antarctica

Henry Foster found Deception Island.

Oct 27, 1828

Henry Foster found Deception Island.

Douglas Mawson led the Australian Antarctic Expedition

Jan 1, 1911

Aurora. His Main aim was to investigate the coastline and the ocean floor between Antarctica and Australia. It is the first time that radio was used in Antarctica.

Amundsen reaches the South Pole

Dec 14, 1911

Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a 5 man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time.

Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole

Jan 18, 1912

Although Scott discovers he has been beaten by Amundsen.

Shackleton departs England

Aug 9, 1914

Shackleton leaves England in hopes of being the first person on the Continent.

Shackletons Ship Trapped (Endurance)

Jan 11, 1915

Shackletons ship 'Endurance' gets trapped in ice, the crew leave it as they thought that the ship would be freed in Summer, but instead of defrosting the ice slowly started to destroy it.

Crew Members Rescued From Elephant Island and South Georgia's Coast

May 20, 1916

Shackleton and his menwent back to the places shackleton had left crew members, Shackleton had saved/recovered everyone

First Settlement

Jul 15, 1942

First permanent settlement was set up in Antarctica.

Antarctica is for science

Jul 15, 1961

Antarctica is declared for study/scientific purposes only.