Editing Robert Falcon Scott (section)

== ''Discovery'' expedition, 1901–1904 ==
{{main|Discovery Expedition}}
[[File:ATLNZ 11714.jpeg|thumb|[[Ernest Shackleton|Shackleton]], Scott, and [[Edward Adrian Wilson|Wilson]] before their march south during the [[Discovery Expedition|''Discovery'' expedition]], 2 November 1902]]
The British National Antarctic Expedition, later known as the ''Discovery'' Expedition, was a joint enterprise of the RGS and the [[Royal Society]]. A long-cherished dream of Markham's, it required all of his skills and cunning to bring the expedition to fruition, under naval command and largely staffed by naval personnel. Scott may not have been Markham's first choice as leader but, having decided on him, the older man remained a constant supporter.{{sfn|Crane|2005|p=90}} There were committee battles over the scope of Scott's responsibilities, with the Royal Society pressing to put a scientist in charge of the expedition's programme while Scott merely commanded the ship. Eventually, however, Markham's view prevailed;{{sfn|Preston|1999|pp=28–29}} Scott was given overall command, and was promoted to the rank of commander before {{RRS|Discovery||2}} sailed for the Antarctic on 6 August 1901.{{sfn|Crane|2005|p=63}} [[King Edward VII]], who showed a keen interest in the expedition, visited the ''Discovery'' the day before the ship left British shores in August 1901,<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Discovery – Inspection by the King and Queen |date=6 August 1901 |page=10 |issue=36526}}</ref> and during the visit appointed Scott a Member Fourth Class of the [[Royal Victorian Order]], his personal gift.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27346 |date=16 August 1901 |page=5409}}</ref>

Experience of Antarctic or Arctic waters was almost entirely lacking within the 50-strong party and there was very little special training in equipment or techniques before the ship set sail.{{sfn|Scott|1905|loc=vol&nbsp;1, p.&nbsp;170|ps=. "Our ignorance was deplorable."}} Dogs were taken, as were skis, but the dogs succumbed to disease in the first season. Nevertheless, the dogs' performance impressed Scott, and, despite moral qualms, he implemented the principle of slaughtering dogs for dog food to increase the others' range.<ref>"The dog-team is invested with a capacity of work which is beyond the emulation of party of men&nbsp;... This method of using dogs is one which can only be adopted with reluctance. One cannot calmly contemplate the murder of animals which possess such intelligence and individuality" RF Scott ''The Voyage of the Discovery'' Vol I, Smith Elder & Co, London 1905, p.&nbsp;465.</ref> During an early attempt at ice travel, a blizzard trapped expedition members in their tent and their decision to leave it resulted in the death of George Vince, who slipped over a precipice on 11 March 1902.{{sfn|Scott|1905|pp=211–227}}{{sfn|Crane|2005|pp=161–167}} The expedition also experienced problems with [[scurvy]], which affected Scott's domestic reputation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Armston-Sheret |first=Edward |date=2019-07-01 |title=Tainted bodies: scurvy, bad food and the reputation of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–1904 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305748818301610 |journal=Journal of Historical Geography |language=en |volume=65 |pages=19–28 |doi=10.1016/j.jhg.2019.05.006 |s2cid=202357562 |issn=0305-7488}}</ref>

[[File:Scott hut mcmurdo.jpg|thumb|alt=Wooden structure with door and two small windows. To the left is an open lean-to. In the background are partly snow-covered mountains.|''Discovery'' hut at [[Hut Point]]]]

The expedition had both scientific and exploration objectives; the latter included a long journey south, in the direction of the South Pole. This march, undertaken by Scott, [[Ernest Shackleton]] and [[Edward Adrian Wilson|Edward Wilson]], took them to a latitude of 82°17′S, about {{convert|530|mi|km}} from the pole. A harrowing return journey brought about Shackleton's physical collapse and his early departure from the expedition.{{sfn|Preston|1999|pp=60–67}} The second year showed improvements in technique and achievement, culminating in Scott's western journey which led to the discovery of the [[Polar Plateau]]. This has been described by one writer as "one of the great polar journeys".{{sfn|Crane|2005|p=270}} The scientific results of the expedition included important biological, zoological and geological findings.{{sfn|Fiennes|2003|p=148}} Some of the meteorological and magnetic readings, however, were later criticised as amateurish and inaccurate.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=229–230}}{{sfn|Crane|2005|pp=392–393}}

At the end of the expedition it took the combined efforts of two relief ships and the use of explosives to free ''Discovery'' from the ice.{{sfn|Preston|1999|pp=78–79}} Scott's insistence during the expedition on Royal Navy formalities had made for uneasy relations with the merchant navy contingent, many of whom departed for home with the first relief ship in March 1903. Second-in-command [[Albert Armitage]], a merchant officer, was offered the chance to go home on compassionate grounds, but interpreted the offer as a personal slight, and refused.{{sfn|Preston|1999|pp=67–68}} Armitage also promoted the idea that the decision to send Shackleton home on the relief ship arose from Scott's animosity rather than Shackleton's physical breakdown.{{sfn|Crane|2005|pp=240–241}} Although there was later tension between Scott and Shackleton, when their polar ambitions directly clashed, mutual civilities were preserved in public;{{sfn|Crane|2005|p=310}} Scott joined in the official receptions that greeted Shackleton on his return in 1909 after the [[Nimrod Expedition|''Nimrod'' Expedition]],{{sfn|Crane|2005|pp=396–397}} and the two exchanged polite letters about their respective ambitions in 1909–1910.{{sfn|Preston|1999|p=113}}