Person

Colbeck, William (1871 - 1930)

Born
8 August 1871
Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Died
19 October 1930
London, United Kingdom
Occupation
Antarctic explorer and Shipmaster

Summary

William Colbeck was a merchant navy officer whose career culminated as Marine Superintendent for the United Shipping Line, London. In 1898 he joined the second British Antarctic Expedition as Magnetic Observer and Cartographer. He was thus a member of the first party to overwinter in Antarctica, and a member of the sledging party which in February 1900 reached further south than any previous parties. Colbeck was Captain of S.Y. Morning which was the supply ship for the British National Antarctic Expedition in Discovery. In the summer of 1902 - 1903 Colbeck found Discovery beset in ice in McMurdo Sound. The following season he made his second voyage south where Discovery eventually broke free of the ice. The expedition reached Lyttleton, New Zealand, in April 1904. Colbeck Bay and Cape Colbeck, King George V Land, Antarctica, were named in his honour.

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Details

Chronology

1886 - 1890
Career position - Cadet in merchant navy
1890
Education - First mate's certificate
1894
Education - Master's certificate
1898
Education - Studied magnetism at Kew Observatory
1898
Military service - Sub-lieutenant, Royal Navy Reserve
1898 - 1900
Career position - Magnetic Observer and Cartographer, second British Antarctic Expedition
1900 - 1914
Career position - Employed by Wilson Line, Hull, United Kingdom
1901
Award - Back Award, Royal Geographical Society, London
1902 - 1904
Career position - Captain, Morning, relief ship for the British National Antarctic Expedition
1904
Award - Bronze Polar Medal (Bronze)
1914 -
Career position - Captain (later Marine Superintendent), United Shipping Line, London

Related Events

Published resources

Journal Articles

  • Margolies, Sandra, 'Captain William Colbeck: from Hull to Catford via Antarctica', Lewisham history journal, 22 (2014), 32-57. Details

See also

  • Borchgrevink, C. E., First on the Antarctic Continent, being an account of the British Anratctic Expedition, 1898 - 1900 (London: Georges Newnes Ltd, 1901), 333 pp. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 24 September 2024

EOAS ID: biogs/P007483b.htm

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