Shackleton - The Great Explorer and Survivor Documentary 

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beside all the attributes and actions that we typically praise Shackleton for, the most admirable moment for me was when he barely rested for 3 days after arriving at South Georgia but headed right back into Hell (a Hell of ice and bitter cold violent ocean) to rescue his 22 men--where many people would've just easily lie to themselves and assume the men are dead, after arriving in safe hands. Instead, he came back and rescued all of them after 4 attempts. I can't fathom the fortitude of men in their days, to call it a miracle of freewill is an understatement. Fortitudine Vincimus!

“For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.” Sir Raymond Priestly, Antarctic Explorer and Geologist.

Yes I believe he was the greatest! Before my parents died, the last book we read together was "The Endurance" and it was impossible to put it down until we were finished. I hope the reader will get it and read it, you won't be sorry.

I am a Shackleton, Philip by name. I belong to the half of the family who remained in Yorkshire, despite the persecution of Quakers. Our family moto is Perseverantia Vincimus, meaning we persvered with the perscution. Earnest's half of the family has the moto Fotitudinae Vincimus, which translated as, By Enduance we Concour. They equally endured the separation to Irland as much as we persevered with the persecution. Earnest Son Edward went on to become a geographer, mapping I believe, the coast of Greenland and WW2 working in the RAF to map areas of Germany to enable the eventual defeat of the Nazi's. He then went on to become an MP, Preston, and eventually enter the lords as Lord Edward Shackleton.

In my opinion Shackleton is the greatest of the Antarctic explorers. There is more to it than just reaching the precise South Pole. I read everything I can about Shackleton. Always have. The movie Shackleton starring Kenneth Brannaugh is amazing. Very underrated film. Ironically Shackleton and Brannaugh resemble one another. I think Shackleton would be pleased.

Just brilliant. Tom Crean also worthy of a programme of his own.

Like some of the comments have touched on, Robert Lansing's book "Endurance" is in a league of its own. I try and read it again every few years. The way this People's Profile narrator repeatedly heralds Shackleton's exploits at bringing home all members of his expedition, should leave no one out there in doubt as to how epic the Endurance story is. Unlike Scott who I've researched throughout my life, I only ever skimmed over Shackleton's other biographical chapters. Thank you for filling in those details now. I did know he died and was laid to rest on South Georgia, which I feel was completely appropriate and beautiful in its own way.

Ernest Shackleton was the greatest explorer and I personally hold him in great esteem.

Luis Alberto Pardo Villalón (20 September 1882 - 21 February 1935) was a Chilean Navy officer who, in August 1916, commanded the steam tug Yelcho to rescue the 22 stranded crewmen of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, part of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The crewmen were stranded on Elephant Island, an ice-covered mountainous island off the coast of Antarctica in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands, in the Southern Ocean.“ Why you fellas never mención this man is astonishing to me. Shackleton was an extraordinary man, but his quest would have been a unmentioned disaster had not been for Mr. Pardo’s daring ability with a ship that was not fit for an Antarctic trip, specially at that time of the year

Shackleton is by far one of the greatest Explores and greatest leaders of men for that era. The Book the Endurance is a riveting record of Shackleton's leadership and tenacity to survive. This was a fantastic Video. Thank you for posting this.

“I chose life over death for myself and my friend… I believe it is our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure would be not to explore at all” Sir Ernst Shackleton

Robert E Bartlett’s heroics saving his crew when the Karluk was lost in the ice is another fantastic story of endurance and survival on par with Shackleton. Bartlett and Shackleton carried their balls in a wheelbarrow!

I became very involved in the attempts to celebrate the bicentennial of one of America's great explorations, the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the West Coast. All along the way, people said Look what they accomplished going so much into the unknown. Seven years later I was on a Lindblad/National Geographic cruise celebrating the Endurance. I said Lewis and Clark had nothing on these guys. Thanks for the great summary in this video, but I encourage those interested in more to read, Endurance, by Alfred Lansing.

Irish born and raised. Athy in Kildare has a small museum which has quite a bit on Shackleton on permanent display.

Tom Crean, Irishman, true hero. I recommend to anyone who watched this video and found it interesting to read the book The Unsung Hero. A man equal to Shackleton in my opinion.

True story, i had a music teacher in the 4th grade back in 1999 who was named Neil Shackleton, he was one of the great grandchildren of Ernest Shackleton. He would often talk about Ernest and his adventures in class.

No matter how much I already know about a person, I always learn at least one new thing when watching these profiles. Thanks for your stellar research.

Lovely depiction of Shackleton above and we in Ireland are very proud of his Irish roots and the fact he was proud of them also. Shackleton was clearly one of the most remarkable men but it has to be said Tom Crean played an enormous role in Shackleton's story and is rightly getting the recognition he deserved. Crean's solo march is rightly highlighted in the excellent programme above (for which he received the Albert Medal) but he also played a central role in the epic journey of the James Caird including singing sea shanties and other songs to keep the men's spirits up as he was steering! Crean was extremely loyal to Shackleton and helped keep the men together at difficult times. Another Irishman, Co. Cork man, Timothy McCarthy, who was also in the James Caird is worth a mention, especially as he lost his life at sea during WWI (in 1916). Phenonemal story all round, unforgettable in fact. Crean returned home to County Kerry, married and opened a pub called the South Pole Inn in Annascaul, which is still serving today & is full of Antartic memoribilia & photographs, I stop there each time I am on the way down for hiking on the Dingle peninsula. Crean sadly lost his life in 1938 in the Bons Secours hospital in Cork City from an infection associated with a burst appendix & is buried in his family's tomb at the cemetery in Ballynacourty, Annascaul, Co. Kerry. May they all rest in peace.

Brilliant video! Honestly, I absolutely adored this documentary. The People Profiles is truly helping society become more informed, spending so much time to bring us content, quite the selfless act. In America at least, historical documentaries (and channels) are no longer available for the most part.

This is by far for me what Ernest Shackleton and his crew had gone through as well as the length of time has to be the greatest survival story in the history of all time ... WOW !!

Crean and Worsley also deserve a huge amount of respect.

I have long held the highest regard for Ernest Shackleton. He was truly a great leader.

Very well done. The tale of the Endurance has always been fascinating. The sheer will to survive astounding.

One of the heroes of shackletons expedition surely must have been the photographer. He gave us lots of photographs and live footage. !

Now it's incredible because they've found the Endurance! In such beautiful, pristine condition. 🤘💕

This is truly a story for the ages...determination ... Dedication to your commitment will give strength to accomplish great things .

Ernest Shackleton was nothing only a machine. A Incredible machine. He would whistle his way to the top of Everest and have a beauty sleep at the summit.

Humans were the priority for Shackleton, their survival,not planting flags or receiving knighthoods or any of that nonsense. The Endurance expedition is the greatest ever achieved and dwarfs the cruelty and madness of sacrificing millions of lives in the first world war because an archduke was killed in Serbia, only cowards send people to their deaths for such unspeakable reasons and rulers have been doing it ever since. Shackleton and his men showed what humans were capable of, their masters proved the opposite, mass murder and total destruction and they are still at it today. He is without doubt the greatest explorer simply because he put the lives of his men first and not disgusting imperialist notions of glory through death. Here's to you Mr Shackleton.

“I am just going outside and may be some time”. Lawrence Oates, 12 March 1912, Scott's Terra Nova Expedition.

The crossing of the South Georgia mountains and hearing the first sirens of the Whale station remain still totally uncanny to me.

Shackelton was a legend, as was Edmunsen! Men of great endurance and integrity!

What Shackleton done is the equivalent of a marathon runner only training for a 5k run. Under prepared and stubborn. He brought all the heartship upon himself and the crew

Would have loved to have heard Shackleton’s thoughts on the Lewis and Clark expedition

What timing. I have been seeing clips on RU-vid that the Endurance has been found

An amazing man! Very special wife too.

A true Bro's Bro. The, underground, gold standard for leadership.

Blackburrow agreeing to be the first to be eaten is a strong commitment lol

This channel just gets better and better

After the recently discovery of The Endurance this very well documentary put you in right History Place. Wonderful Channel for History Lovers. Thanks so much for uploading this upstanding documentary 🎯

He was Magnificent, What a leader of men

And at last it's been found

What an amazing man in an amazing era. Thankyou for another excellent episode.

Great story, I listened to it in full, encore ! Salute what a true man of die hard exploration of a truest icy hell, salute.

How many people wish they were born in the time of the Great explorations. I often wonder how it felt to be the first humans to step foot where none had before. Not for fame but just to know that I was here. And lay down the challenge for the next adventures to step further.

Shackleton would have died but for the incredible navigation skills of the New Zealander Frank Worsley. Worsley was the real hero of that fateful expedition.

Absolutely captivating story. There was so much that I didn't know about Shackleton.

Great story, great man who did it , all hero's

He deserves more respect more than anyone

I've watched almost everything on Shackleton's expeditions and so forth but i never new his grandfather was from Yorkshire where I've lived my whole life

Fantastic documentary thank you.

Amundsen did his research and planning. He approached the natives with the view that he had much to learn from them. Others looked on the natives as ignorant primitives. It paid off with the twin prizes of the Northwest Passage and the south pole to his credit. He came home alive.

It's insane how much footage they have of this too.

cant believe they found the ship under the ice as well? Still looking like it did after the ice took her and its the most intense survival story ever, maybe the plane crash in the ande's would beat it, but only because of a modern age survival story, but Shackleton's salling skills to save the stranded men and going back for them to save them, is all inspiring ?

The Endurance Expedition is EASILY the greatest real-life adventure story of all time. I don't like the way that Shackelton treated McNish and Ernie Joyce... but he was still one Hell of a leader.

One of these trips, and I'd be like....I'm done man, drop me off somewhere near the equator. Let alone, " That was fun, when can we do it again "

This is a story I admire. It is quite easy for me to forget that Shackleton is gone for a 100 years already.

Very informative and well presented.

Excellent documentary on Ernest Shackleton. Thank you very much. Fascinating story a great man.

If you ever got lost you better hope Shackleton was with you

He was indeed the the greatest, as he allways put, his men first.

Growing up my grandmother used to tell me I was a lot like her great uncle (I believe, I know it her uncle, but I'm not quite sure how great). I never knew who she was refering too as I hadnt known much of her family outside of the one she created. I never wasnt to stay put, I always wanted to travel and see new places. Was happiest when on the road. One day when I was a teen, I learned about Sir. Shackleton. One day I was at my grandmothers and was discussing this man with her. She smiled and said he was the man she always said I was like. That's when I realized she had the same last name as him and was related to him (I grew up majority of my life as my grandmother having my grandfathers last name even years after their divorce, wasnt until I was a teen that she reverted back to her maiden name). I use to look up to this man, even tho I've never met him. He was the reason I wanted to become an explorer.

Great Men / Great Documentry.

Thank you.

the adventure in the tales of these individuals makes me want to travel hahaha

When they say,"cometh the hour,cometh the man,it is Ernest Shackleton ,they talking about.If you can read Endurance,that's his story.

Brilliantly presented documentary about a great leader of men, thank you .

Exploration is a fascinating topic. Thanks for your uploads. As much as I enjoy a narrated video, so many of them are using a synthetic voice and while I understand this is not something most people would be bothered about or even notice.. for some reason it makes me uncomfortable. I can get through a portion of the video but then the voice starts to disturb me. Yes, I know, I'm weird or neurotic or whatever. I just prefer a natural human voice.

Wonderfully presented; just remarkable!!

He created amazing feats of survival!!

Got to love the Irish he trecked towards the future. the shadowy future, without fears with a manly heart

From Shackleton you can learn to adapt or die. And never whine or complain. Keep busy and crack on. 👍

Not one word has been written about the first penguin to lay an egg on the ice of the South Pole. Now THAT WAS a leap of faith ?

Hi all...so nice to watch this beautyfull documentará!! As a mountanieer I can not les than thank you for uploading this puede as to Mr Shackeñton for Hawking gave me the idea that always you can go for you think IT north the Effect.. This mind of Gus wee the ones that fado kept the spirit of adventire alice. And that its their heritage for US all......

they seemed to be a different breed of men in those days...

Shackleton is one of the greatest leaders of all time, and the greatest polar leader. Amundsen is the greatest polar explorer of all time (technically and also the most humble). Scott was a pompous twit who's vanity killed his men.

Fingers crossed for the endurance22 expedition, hopefully they'll find the ship. Do you plan to do a video on Roald Amundsen at some point?

He shouldn't have made Mrs. Chippy stay behind, the poor little guy. 😞

Brilliant video

Greatest explorer of all time. Men of his caliber simply do not exist these days.

Read his book, amazing men! So much mental strength puts our generation to shame!

The Brits need to acknowledge that Amundsen was first, therefore, best of all.

It’s been found.

He deserves a human narrator.

Just listening to this after they've located the Endurance.

My great great grandad ❤

Imagine gutting a live seal and putting your frostbitten hands into it's warm guts for relief. It really happened. Wow.

Our modern world and all its conveniences can't make people like this anymore.

They found that boat and it’s in pristine condition

A good man, but reckless. Arthur Worsley is the true hero of this sorry saga that has been somehow spun as a triumph.

This was great

Liked, thank you.

There’s an old Seaman’s superstition of bad luck of renaming a ship

*Summer of 1911. Scott reached the pole in the summer of 1911, not the winter of 1911. It was February 1911 & this is summer in the southern hemisphere.

Frank Hurley, the intrepid photographer, rarely gets a mention, but without him we would read a book and imagine.

No one else caught that the narrator said World War II broke out in 1899? This guy died in 1922 let alone the world war starting in 1939 September.

He became his Ship Endurance 🙏🙏🙏

Scott made massive mistakes which cost lives. Shackleton made massive mistakes but got him self out of it. Amundsen got it right.

Well, if one were forced to be on any of those expeditions, who would you want to be with? I'd think that answer is a clear Amundsen. Shackleton does make for a fantastic tale, no doubt.

Endurance was hunting tourists ship for Arctic. She was built like brick outhouse in Norwegian yard, able to handle ive floas, but ship hull form was not designed to wintering stuck in ice of Wedell Sea. It was quite small ship. Faced with abbnormally harsh ice conditions Endurance did ok, till months of gripped within vices of ice took what belongs to it. I wonder if they would had 1000 pounds of dynamite, would Endurance survived. Not free the ship. But demolish the ice which strangleg Endunmce.