Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912), British Antarctic explorer, wearing his naval uniform. Scott joined the British Navy in 1881, rising to the rank of commander (1900). From 1900 he led an expedition to explore the Ross Sea area of Antarctica. On his return in 1904 he was promoted to captain. In 1910 he returned to the Antarctic leading an expedition to reach the South Pole. His team reached the pole on 17 January 1912, only to discover that a team led by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had beaten them. Scott and his companions were trapped by a blizzard and died on the return journey. His diary, found with his body, was published in 1913.