Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

People of the Expedition

Captain Thomas Robertson of the Scotia

Captain Thomas Robertson of Peterhead was master of the SY Scotia on the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.

From 1879 he had experienced polar navigation as master of various whalers, particularly of the Active on the 1892-1893 Dundee Antarctic Expedition. During this expedition, William S Bruce sailed on the Balaena, one of three other ships on that expedition, as surgeon.

On 15 October 1904, following the success of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, Robertson wrote to Ernest Shackleton, the then secretary of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, requesting fellowship of the RSGS in recognition of his vital contribution. At its meeting on Thursday 20 October 1904, the RSGS council decided to award Robertson the society's silver medal.