Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

William Speirs Bruce, 1867-1921

Portrait of Dr. William S. Bruce

William Speirs Bruce was born in London of Scottish and Norse forebears in 1867, and came to Edinburgh in 1885 to study medicine at the University. Thereafter he did not pursue a traditional medical career, but in 1892 was accepted as surgeon and naturalist on the Dundee whaler Balaena on a voyage to the Antarctic.

This gave him a taste for polar exploration, which reached a peak with his organisation and leadership of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition in 1902-04.

On his return he established the Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory to exhibit specimens collected by the Expedition. Between 1906 and 1919 he spent much time exploring Spitzbergen (Svalbard). After his death in Edinburgh in 1921 his ashes were scattered in Antarctic waters.