Emily Shackleton

The era of Antarctic exploration During their marriage, Emily's husband, Ernest, was frequently away on expeditions in the Antarctic. She was an important part of her husband's work, and used her social connections to generate the practical and financial support required to enable him to embark on the British Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole, and later the Imperial Transantarctic Expedition. In her husband's absence, she raised their family alone and lived on her independent income. She became interested in the Girl Guiding movement, which formally started around 1910, and she became the Eastbourne divisional Commissioner.

Popular culture Emily Shackleton was played by the actress Phoebe Nicholls in the 2002 TV miniseries Shackleton, starring Kenneth Branagh as her husband, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Collections The Emily Shackleton collection of papers is held at the Scott Polar Research Institute and comprises correspondence by Emily to family members and others connected with Antarctic exploration and an account of the royal visit to the Nimrod prior to the British Antarctic Expedition.

The National Portrait Gallery holds a bromide snapshot of Emily Shackleton by an unknown photographer, dated 1910.