‘Will make a good Admiral’: a reassessment of Captain Scott's naval career

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Authors: Lewis, George, May, Karen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Antarctic; Roland; Antarc*; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247413000697; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247413000697

ABSTRACT In his book Scott and Amundsen (1979) Roland Huntford described Captain Robert Falcon Scott R.N. as ‘not well thought of in the Service’ and ‘an obscure, rather dull torpedo lieutenant with mediocre prospects’. A myth has subsequently arisen that Scott was forced into Antarctic exploration as his only route to naval promotion. In reality, Scott was an extremely able officer held in high regard by his naval contemporaries; he was on course for promotion to flag rank (rear-admiral and above) had he not taken up polar exploration; and his primary motivation for polar work was financial support for his family. In addition to a chronological account of Scott's career, this article will present his Admirals’ reports in full.