William Colbeck (seaman)
Encyclopedia
William Colbeck was a British seaman who distinguished himself on two Antarctic
expeditions.
, Colbeck served a merchant navy apprenticeship between 1886 and 1890, earning his second mate
's certificate in 1890, first mate's certificate in 1892, master
's in 1894 and extra master's in 1897. He was awarded a Royal Navy
reserve commission in 1898. In that year he was invited by the Norwegian Carsten Borchgrevink to join the Southern Cross Expedition
to the Antarctic. This would be the first expedition to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland; Colbeck took charge of the expedition's magnetic observation work.
After returning to England in 1900, Colbeck was soon going southward again, this time in command of the relief ship Morning
, sent in early 1903 to resupply Captain Scott's Discovery, then trapped in the ice at McMurdo Sound
in the Antarctic. In January 1904 Colbeck returned with Morning, this time with firm instructions that unless Discovery could be speedily released from the ice, she was to be abandoned; Colbeck was to bring Scott and the expedition home. In a race against time, and with a fortunate shift in ice conditions, Discovery was freed and sailed safely home.
Thereafter Colbeck made no further Antarctic ventures and he died in 1930.
on the King Edward VII peninsula, at 77°07′S 158°01′W.
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
expeditions.
Biography
Educated at Hull Grammar SchoolHull Grammar School
Hull Grammar School was an independent secondary school in Hull, England, founded in 1486 by Dr. John Alcock. The school merged with Hull High School to form Hull Collegiate School in 2005.- History :The seventeenth oldest independent school in the U.K...
, Colbeck served a merchant navy apprenticeship between 1886 and 1890, earning his second mate
Second Mate
A second mate or second officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The second mate is the third in command and a watchkeeping officer, customarily the ship's navigator. Other duties vary, but the second mate is often the medical officer and in charge of maintaining...
's certificate in 1890, first mate's certificate in 1892, master
Master mariner
A Master Mariner or MM is the professional qualification required for someone to serve as the person in charge or person in command of a commercial vessel. In England, the term Master Mariner has been in use at least since the 13th century, reflecting the fact that in guild or livery company terms,...
's in 1894 and extra master's in 1897. He was awarded a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
reserve commission in 1898. In that year he was invited by the Norwegian Carsten Borchgrevink to join the Southern Cross Expedition
Southern Cross Expedition
The Southern Cross Expedition, officially known as the British Antarctic Expedition 1898–1900, was the first British venture of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, and the forerunner of the more celebrated journeys of Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton...
to the Antarctic. This would be the first expedition to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland; Colbeck took charge of the expedition's magnetic observation work.
After returning to England in 1900, Colbeck was soon going southward again, this time in command of the relief ship Morning
SY Morning
SY Morning is most famous for her role as a relief vessel to Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition . She made two voyages to the Antarctic to resupply the expedition.-Acquisition for the British National Antarctic Expedition:...
, sent in early 1903 to resupply Captain Scott's Discovery, then trapped in the ice at McMurdo Sound
McMurdo Sound
The ice-clogged waters of Antarctica's McMurdo Sound extend about 55 km long and wide. The sound opens into the Ross Sea to the north. The Royal Society Range rises from sea level to 13,205 feet on the western shoreline. The nearby McMurdo Ice Shelf scribes McMurdo Sound's southern boundary...
in the Antarctic. In January 1904 Colbeck returned with Morning, this time with firm instructions that unless Discovery could be speedily released from the ice, she was to be abandoned; Colbeck was to bring Scott and the expedition home. In a race against time, and with a fortunate shift in ice conditions, Discovery was freed and sailed safely home.
Thereafter Colbeck made no further Antarctic ventures and he died in 1930.
Legacy
His work there was commemorated by the naming of Cape ColbeckCape Colbeck
Cape Colbeck is a prominent ice-covered cape which forms the northwestern extremity of the Edward VII Peninsula and Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica. It was discovered in January 1902 by the British National Antarctic Expedition expedition and named for Captain William Colbeck, Royal Naval Reserve,...
on the King Edward VII peninsula, at 77°07′S 158°01′W.