Sir Ernest Shackleton: 1874 - 1922

Explorer and Freemason Sir Ernest Shackleton once said; "If you're a leader, a fellow that other fellows look to, you've got to keep going."

Shackleton was born on the 15th February 1874 in County Kildare, Ireland. The family moved to London where Shackleton was educated. Rejecting his father's wish that he become a doctor, he joined the merchant navy when he was 16 and qualified as a master mariner in 1898. He traveled widely but was keen to explore the North and South poles

Shackleton visited the poles on three occasions, and on the second occasion, Shackleton led his own expedition on the ship Nimrod. His team climbed Mount Erebus, made many important scientific discoveries and set a record by reaching closer to the South Pole than achieved before. On his return to Britain, Shackleton was knighted.

Shackleton's fourth expedition aimed to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent but on the 5th January 1922, he died after suffering a heart attack just off the coast of South Georgia.

Shackleton was initiated into Navy Lodge No. 2612 which meets in London. Shackleton went 10 whole years between his initiation and his second degree!