| RefNo | MS/547/13/2 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Printed copy of letter from J W Gregory to the Royal Society's representitives on the National Antarctic Expedition joint committee |
| Date | 28 January 1901 |
| Description | Concerning leadership of the Antarctic Expedition. Gregory explains he wrote a letter on 19 January 1900 to Executive Committee, outlining his understanding of the scope of the expedition and his terms. Sir Clements Markham informed him on 16 June that [Robert Falcon] Scott had been appointed as the naval head of the expedition, and that Gregory's letter had been 'received and approved'. However, upon arriving in England he met Scott on 7 January [1901] with a set of draft instructions. 'Sir Clements Markham and Capt. Scott expressed entire disapproval of these instructions, practically on the ground that there could only be one leader of the Expedition, and that leader must be Capt. Scott'.
Gregory will not accompany the expedition if the scientific work is under the control of the naval captain. Urges the Royal Society to clarify this issue with the Joint Committee, so that the powers of the two heads is clear. Notes that the Deputy Scientific Director also needs to be appointed as soon as possible. Reminds the Society that the scientific work is the basis on which the Government grant was provided. |
| Extent | 2p |
| Format | Printed |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA1348 | Gregory; John Walter (1864 - 1932); geologist and naturalist | 1864 - 1932 |
| NA7951 | Markham; Sir; Clements Robert (1830 - 1916); geographer, explorer and writer | 1830 - 1916 |