Ernest Shackleton and the Epic Voyage of the Endurance

The struggles of Shackleton started from the age of 16, he had to convince his father to allow him to go to sea, so his father managed to get him a position on a merchant vessel at the rank of “boy”. According to Shackleton it was part of his father’s plan to draw him back to school as he says, “My father thought to cure me of my predilection for the sea by letting me go in the most primitive manner possible as a ‘boy’ on board a sailing ship at a shilling [about $6 today] a month!” . His job tasks were scrubbing decks and polishing brass railing which were the tasks of the lowest-ranking member of the crew in a maritime career. However, being attentive and observant, absorbing every bit of information about life at sea earned Shackleton respect. Later in 1900, Shackleton was appointed as a member of NAE National Antarctic Expedition.