We are very appreciated with any contribution to make a better and more exactly biography of sir douglas mawson by give us information about sir douglas mawson such as sir douglas mawson bio, sir douglas mawson news, sir douglas mawson photos. He studied mining engineering at the university of sydney, graduating in 1901. On 16th january 1909, the flag was raised at the magnetic south pole by david, mackay and mawson. Douglas mawsons tragic antarctic trek on an antarctic expedition 100 years ago, mawson endured one of the most horrific journeys in the history of exploration alok jha, science correspondent. Douglas mawson biography childhood, life achievements. Australian dictionary of biography, national centre of biography, australian. Meet douglas mawson tells the story of how mawson survived the dangers and challenges of the frozen continent. Along with roald amundsen, robert falcon scott, and sir ernest shackleton, he was a key expedition leader during the heroic age of antarctic exploration. Douglas mawson led the first australian expedition to the antarctic. Mawson was a key expedition leader during the heroic age of antarctic exploration. At the heart of the book is mawsons australasian antarctic.
Douglas mawson after his return from the 191114 expedition. The mawson family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. The nimrod expedition took place in 1907 until 1909. His father, robert mawson, was a cloth merchant from a farming background. Sir douglas mawson 1882 to 1958 australian antarctic division. Searle collection, national library of australia, nla. Douglas mawson an australian by adoption was offered a place on scotts terra nova.
Sir douglas mawson australian dictionary of biography. Do you have a 100 australian dollars banknote sir douglas mawson. By january 10, 19, two of the three men would be dead, and expedition leader douglas mawson would find himself exhausted, ill and still more than 160 miles from the nearest human being. And so, i had an idea of what to expect from the book by douglas mawson. Knighted in 1914, sir douglas mawson died in october 1958 aged 76 years.
Mawson created the geological report after his expedition in the new hebrides. In mawsons book home of the blizzard, he describes his experiences. Mawson decided to join the nimrod expedition of ernest shackleton to reach the antarctic. This was the last day in the life of a heroic man that changed the way we think about antarctica. Mawson by peter fitzsimons penguin books australia. At the heart of the story is mawsons epic sledge journey in 1912 during which his companions ninnis and. Douglas mawson was a geologist who was among the first scientists to explore the continent of antarctica. You probably also know that antarctica is technically a desert even though it holds 70% of our planets freshwater supply. The last photo of mawsons far eastern party, taken when they left the australasian antarctic partys base camp on november 10, 1912. Douglas mawson the heroic age of antarctic exploration. Site map pictures old antarcticans facts history antarctica travel antarctic clothing schools arctic travel whales. His parents took him to sydney, new south wales, when he was 4. The incredible story of australias most famous polar explorer and the giants from the heroic age of polar exploration douglas mawson, born in 1882 and knighted in 1914, was australias greatest antarctic explorer.
He accompanied ernest shackleton on the british antarctic expedition 190709, then commanded his own expedition, the australasian antarctic expedition. Douglas mawsons 1911 antarctic expedition continued to take scientific measurements in the face of tragic losses and horrendous conditions. To use in a blog or website, publishing in a book, make something else interesting. This is the incredible account of an expedition he led on december 2, 1911, from hobart, to explore the virgin frozen coastline below, 2000 miles of which had. Douglas mawson, australian geologist and explorer whose travels in the. Sir douglas mawson is one of australias best known antarctic explorers. Douglas mawson students britannica kids homework help. The title of the report was the geology of the new hebrides. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises douglas mawson andy irvine rude awakenings.
Another of his most notable works was the book the home of the. His parents were margaret ann moore and robert mawson. This one hundred dollars banknote portrays the images of sir douglas mawson and john tebbutt. Our september 14th auction features several signed letters from douglas mawson. A biography of sir douglas mawson tells how he survived perils worthy of a. Scientists retrace steps of great antarctic explorer. The home of the blizzard by sir douglas mawson free ebook. Signed sir douglas mawson letters sydney rare book. Sy aurora, douglas mawson ships of the antarctic explorers. Professor sir douglas mawson 18821958 papers re geology including some papers of walter howchin 18721956.
The mawson station in the australian antarctic territory is named in his honour. British by birth, mawson moved to australia as a young boy and spent his life there. Douglas mawson an australian by adoption was offered a place on scotts terra nova expedition but turned it down to lead the australasian antarctic expedition of 1911 1914 sailing on the aurora. Biography sir douglas mawson australian dictionary of biography. Achievements sir douglas mawson, achieved a lot in his life. Just as crucially mawson was instrumental in the establishment of anare through. The books are mentioned in mawsons antarctic diaires, ed. When douglas was a small child, the mawson family moved from england to australia, where douglas spent much of his life. His intellectual boldness and skill were matched by a practical initiative and courage which confirms his place among the worlds greatest explorers. Sir douglas mawson joined the british munitions department and was appointed embarkation officer for high explosives and poisonous gas to russia. Douglas mawson australasian antarctic expedition 19111914.
This is a scene from a documentary of sir douglas mawsons 960km expedition to the south magnetic pole in 191114. Peter fitzsimons is a journalist with the sydney morning herald and sunherald, and a busy events and motivational speaker he is the author of over twentyseven books, including tobruk, kokoda, batavia, eureka, ned kelly, gallipoli and biographies of douglas mawson, nancy wake kim beazley nick farrjones les darcy, steve waugh and john eales, and is one of. Though less prestigious, this was a wide ranging scientific and exploratory expedition to previously unknown and unvisited regions of the antarctic. The home of the blizzard is a tale of discovery and adventure in the antarcticof pioneering deeds, great courage, heartstopping rescues, and heroic perseverance. Sir douglas mawson, antarctic explorer, was born at bradford, yorkshire, in 1882, but was brought up in australia, where he was educated at sydney university. After taking up an academic career, he was appointed geologist to an expedition to the new hebrides in 1903, and subsequently became a lecturer at adelaide university in 1907, mawson joined an expedition to antarctica led by ernest. Douglas mawson article about douglas mawson by the free. Douglas mawson was born in yorkshire in 1882 and emigrated at an early age to australia. Douglas mawson, in full sir douglas mawson, born may 5, 1882, shipley, yorkshire, englanddied october 14, 1958, adelaide, south australia, australia, australian geologist and explorer whose travels in the antarctic earned him worldwide acclaim. For weeks in antarctica, douglas mawson faced some of the most daunting conditions ever known to man. Mawson, sir douglas 18821958, australian dictionary of biography, volume 10, mup, 1986, pp 454 457. He was survived by his wife lady paquita and his two daughters, patricia and jessica.
The australasian antarctic expedition 19111914, headed by douglas mawson, explored the largely uncharted antarctic coast due south of australia. Mawson had still to publish the scientific results of his two expeditions and became an advisor to the government on antarctic affairs. Sir douglas mawson birthdayfriday, may 05, 1882 birthplaceshipley, west yorkshire, england, united kingdom diedtuesday, october 14, 1958 nationality australian occupation geologist, chemistry demonstrator, antarctic explorer, academic educationrooty hill and fort street model school, sydney, new south wales known for first ascent of mount erebus. Sir douglas mawson made three expeditions to antarctica including the aae 191114 and banzare 192931. The book has an 8page index, which cannot possibly cover most of the topics in this massive book, and so i have supplemented the index with more topics. This was about 53% of all the recorded mawsons in the uk. Douglas mawson was born in yorkshire on may 5, 1882. Douglas mawson is made professor 20 dec 1918 28 jun 1957 sir douglas mawson is appointed professor of geology and mineralogy at the university of adelaide. Mawson lead australias first major scientific exploring endeavour beyond the australian continent. Beside biography of sir douglas mawson, we also provide a lot of biographies of other famous people. The aurora was purchased by douglas mawson in 1910 as his expedition ship for the the australasian antarctic expedition that left hobart for antarctica on the 2nd of december 1911. Sir douglas mawson obe frs faa 18821958 was an australian geologist, antarctic explorer and academic. When he was only two years old, his family immigrated to.
Mawson had been inspired to lead his own venture by his experiences on ernest shackletons nimrod expedition in 19071909. Australasian antarctic expedition an overview of the australasian antarctic. Sir douglas mawson obe frs faa 5 may 1882 14 october 1958 was an australian geologist, antarctic explorer, and academic. The home of the blizzard by douglas mawson is a 438page book 5 12 inches x 8 14 inches.
Yorkshire had the highest population of mawson families in 1891. His story is one of a reserved man with great humility never seeking the limelight, but whose contribution to science and the discovery of one of the last great unknowns of the world has ensured him a place in history. The new south wales coast can be considerably dangerous for small coastal vessels due to the occurrence of severe storms, exposure to heavy seas and coastal currents. Mawsons will is the dramatic story of what sir edmund hillary calls the most outstanding solo journey ever recorded in antarctic history. Douglas mawson book lists included in douglas mawsons antarctic diaries is a list of books included in the equipment of the british antarctic expedition of 190809, led by shackleton aboard nimrod in which mawson served as physicist of the expedition. His early career was as a geologist where he went to new hebrides in 1903. The home of the blizzard being the story of the australasian antarctic expedition, 19111914 language. Below are details of a few these rare and fascinating items. During its time in antarctica, the expeditions sledging parties covered around 2,600 miles 4,180 km of unexplored.
This was mawsons introduction to scientific exploration, carried out in rugged country with dense jungle and among hostile inhabitants. Professor sir douglas mawson 18821958 papers re geology. This is douglas mawsons firsthand account of his years spent in subzero temperatures and galeforce winds. In 1891 there were 1,351 mawson families living in yorkshire. Books that deal with mawsons life and work include sir ernest henry shackleton, the heart of the antarctic 2 vols.
The ss douglas mawson was designed and built to act as a coastal transport in these waters. He went on a lot of expeditions to antarctica one of them was sir ernest shackletons nimrod expedition. A picture book series about the extraordinary men and women who have shaped australias history, including the great antarctic explorer, sir douglas mawson. Explore these through the collections of the state library of south australia. He won awards, found the magnetic pole, advanced the mapping of antarctica and made scientific discoveries. Douglas mawson was born on may 5, 1882, in shipley, west yorkshire, england. The most mawson families were found in the uk in 1891. The expedition established three bases, mapped a large part of the antarctic coast and engaged in scientific research. The other key leaders were roald amundsen, robert falcon scott and ernest shackleton mawson was born in shipley, west yorkshire on 5 may 1882. His explorations enabled australia to claim some 2,500,000 square miles 6,475,000 square kilometers of the antarctic continent mawson was born on may 5, 1882, in shipley, yorkshire, england. Sir douglas mawson, the unsung hero of antarctica, gets his due at.
Characteristically for expeditions at this time in wooden sailing ships with auxiliary engine power, the rough seas encountered caused anxieties. Australian explorer and geologist douglas mawson earned worldwide acclaim for his travels in the antarctic. You can start by buying the book by alfred lansing. Sir douglas mawson 18821958 was an australian scientist and explorer of the antarctic. A one page typed memo on letterhead headed the university of adelaide, concerning the shipping of antarctic rocks collected on. Sir douglas mawson died on this day from a cerebral haemorrhage. Sir douglas mawson obe frs faa 5 may 1882 14 october 1958 was an australian. Let me inform you with the interesting information about the australian geologist on facts about douglas mawson. Stories behind the faces part 1 douglas mawson the.
1509 882 1260 626 1072 658 1563 666 359 1250 1617 1422 1422 293 662 1684 1387 1363 1645 1133 1380 325 208 160 224 953 995 214 496 78