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Emily Shackleton

1868 – 1936

Wife of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton

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About Emily Shackleton

Lived 1868 – 1936 (aged 68).

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.

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Important facts

Birth century
Also known as
Lady Shackleton, Emily Mary Shackleton

Family & relationships

Spouse
Ernest Shackleton
Child
Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Emily Shackleton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Emily Shackleton?

wife of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton

When was Emily Shackleton born?

Emily Shackleton was born on 15 May 1868 in Sydenham.

When did Emily Shackleton die?

Emily Shackleton died on 9 June 1936 in Coldwaltham, West Sussex.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Emily Shackleton

· Wikidata: Q43372184

· DBpedia: Emily Shackleton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Emily Shackleton. https://biography.guide/emily-shackleton/

MLA: "Emily Shackleton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/emily-shackleton/.

Chicago: "Emily Shackleton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/emily-shackleton/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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