The Quest Chronicle blog and its origins
In early 2021, it was suggested that I set up a blog to document the “100-years-ago” story of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition as an unfolding diary. The blog launched in March 2021 and ran though the year up to January 4 2022, the eve of the centenary of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s death at South Georgia. By this time, I had decided that the story should be presented in a book and so transferred efforts to that cause – resulting in The Quest Chronicle being published in September 2022. This part of our website contains just some of the posts from the original blog.
Blog posts are listed below in reverse chronological order.
Jan Chojecki
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1921 January – March
In January 1921, Shackleton acquires a 4-year-old Norwegian sealer, Foca 1. The ship is especially suitable for Arctic sea conditions. It is renamed Quest at Emily Shackleton’s suggestion. It is 125 feet long and 204 tons (gross tonnage). Saturday 22 January 1921 Shackleton embarks at Liverpool on RMS Aquitania, bound for New York. His eventual…
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The beginning
While teenagers at school at Dulwich College in the 1890’s, Ernest Shackleton meets John Quiller Rowett. Although not in the same year, they walk the same route to school and exchange notes on homework. In 1911, John Rowett provides Shackleton with space at his London offices at 19 Eastcheap. By this time Rowett is owner…
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Prince Olav Harbour
Prince Olav Harbour whaling station, South Georgia, 1922 – from a photograph by George Hubert Wilkins