Editing Ernest Shackleton (section)

== Shore work, 1903–1907 ==
[[File:Emily Dorman (Lady Shackelton).jpg|thumb|Shackleton's wife [[Emily Dorman]]|alt=A black-and-white photo of Lady Shackelton in three-quarters profile]]
After a period of convalescence in New Zealand, Shackleton returned to England via San Francisco and New York.{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|pp=78–80}} As the first significant person to return from the Antarctic, he found that he was in demand; in particular, the Admiralty wished to consult him about its further proposals for the rescue of ''Discovery''.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=119–120}} With Sir Clements Markham's blessing, he accepted a temporary post assisting the outfitting of the [[Terra Nova (ship)|''Terra Nova'']] for the second ''Discovery'' relief operation, but turned down the offer to sail with her as chief officer. He also assisted in the equipping of the Argentine {{ship|ARA|Uruguay||2}}, which was being fitted out for the relief of the stranded [[Swedish Antarctic Expedition]] under [[Otto Nordenskjöld]].{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|pp=78–80}}

In search of more permanent employment in 1903, Shackleton applied for a regular commission in the Royal Navy via the back-door route of the Supplementary List.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|p=123}} Despite the sponsorship of Markham and [[William Huggins]], the president of the [[Royal Society]], his application was unsuccessful because the list was closed. The Admiralty suggested that he could be promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve if he qualified, but he chose to resign his RNR commission the following year.{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|pp=78–80}} Instead, he became a journalist, working for the ''[[Royal Magazine]]'', but he found this unsatisfactory.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=124–128}} He was then offered, and accepted, the secretaryship of the [[Royal Scottish Geographical Society]] (RSGS), a post which he took up on 11&nbsp;January 1904.{{sfn|Huntford|1985|pp=124–128}} Three months later, on 9&nbsp;April, he married [[Emily Dorman]],{{sfn|Johnson|2003|p=41}} with whom he had three children: Raymond,{{sfn|Johnson|2003|p=42}} Cecily,{{sfn|Johnson|2003|p=43}} and [[Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton|Edward]],{{sfn|Johnson|2003|p=57}} himself an explorer and later a politician.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-lord-shackleton-1450860.html |title=Obituary: Lord Shackleton |work=The Independent |date=24 September 1994 |last=Dalyell |first=Tam |url-status=live |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612204829/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-lord-shackleton-1450860.html}}</ref>

In 1905, Shackleton became a shareholder in a speculative company that aimed to make a fortune transporting Russian troops home from the Far East. Despite his assurances to Emily that "we are practically sure of the contract", nothing came of this scheme.{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|pp=97–98}} He also ventured into politics, unsuccessfully standing in the [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906 General Election]] as the [[Liberal Unionist Party]]'s candidate for [[Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee constituency]] in opposition to Irish Home Rule.{{efn|name=candidate}}{{sfn|Morrell|Capparell|2001|p=32}} In the meantime, he had taken a job with wealthy Clydeside industrialist [[William Beardmore, 1st Baron Invernairn|William Beardmore]] (later Lord Invernairn), with a [[roving commission]] which involved interviewing prospective clients and entertaining Beardmore's business friends.{{sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|p=99}} He was, by this time, making no secret of his ambition to return to Antarctica at the head of his own expedition.{{Sfn|Fisher|Fisher|1957|p=100}}

Beardmore was sufficiently impressed with Shackleton to offer financial support,{{efn|name=Beardmore's support}}{{sfn|Riffenburgh|2004|p=106}} but other donations proved hard to come by. Nevertheless, in February 1907, Shackleton presented to the Royal Geographical Society his plans for an Antarctic expedition, the details of which, under the name [[Nimrod Expedition|British Antarctic Expedition]], were published in the RGS newsletter, ''[[Geographical Journal]]''.{{sfn|Mill|1923|pp=24, 72–80, 104–115, 150}} The aim was the conquest of both the geographical South Pole and the [[South Magnetic Pole]]. He then worked hard to persuade others of his wealthy friends and acquaintances to contribute, including Sir [[Philip Lee Brocklehurst]], who subscribed £2,000 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|2000|1907}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} to secure a place on the expedition;{{sfn|Riffenburgh|2004|p=108}} author Campbell Mackellar; and [[Guinness]] baron [[Lord Iveagh]], whose contribution was secured less than two weeks before the departure of the expedition ship ''Nimrod''.{{sfn|Riffenburgh|2004|p=130}}

On 4 August 1907, Shackleton was appointed a Member of the [[Royal Victorian Order]], 4th Class (MVO; the present-day grade of lieutenant).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28049|page=5447|date=9 August 1907}}</ref>