Emily Shackleton
Emily, Lady Shackleton (15 May 1868 – 9 June 1936) is best known as the wife of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the mother of Edward Shackleton, the Labour Party politician. In later life, Lady Shackleton became involved in the Girl Guide movement.
Lady Shackleton | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) | |
| Born | Emily Mary Dorman 15 May 1868 |
| Died | 9 June 1936 (aged 68) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Raymond, Cecily, and Edward |
Early life
Emily Mary Dorman, later to become Lady Shackleton, was born into a large wealthy family in Sydenham, Kent. She was the youngest of six children, having four brothers and a sister. Emily was friends with a sister of Ernest Shackleton, and was visiting her in 1897 when she first met her future husband. Ernest was home on leave from the Merchant Navy, having just returned from a voyage to Japan.[1] On 9 April 1904 Emily and Ernest were married, and went on to have three children: Raymond, Cecily, and Edward (15 July 1911 - 22 September 1994), himself an explorer and later a politician.[2]
The Heroic Era of Antarctic Exploration
During their marriage, Emily's husband Ernest was frequently away on expeditions in the Antarctic. Emily Shackleton was an important part of her husband's work, she used her social connections to generate the practical and financial support required which enabled him to embark on the British Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole, and later the Imperial Transantarctic Expedition. In her husband's absence, Emily raised their family alone and lived on her independent income.[3] She became interested in the Girl Guiding movement, which formally started around 1910, becoming the Eastbourne divisional Commissioner.[1] The family also benefited from the generosity of philanthropist Janet Stancomb-Wills who assisted in the financing of some of Sir Ernest Shackleton's expeditions. Family life continued in this way until the death of Sir Ernest Shackleton of a heart attack on the island of South Georgia, while en route to Antarctica during the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition.[3]
Later life
Following Earnest's death in South Georgia, Emily worked to preserve and enhance his memory. She approached their family friend, Scottish meteorologist and geographer Hugh Robert Mill, to author the first full-length biography of Shackleton, with her cooperation. The book, "The Life of Sir Earnest Shackleton", was published in 1923. Earnest's death had left her in debt, amounting to approximately £1.5 million in modern terms, and she relied heavily on philanthropic support. Initially, albeit on a reduced budget, she remained in the family home in Eastbourne. However, eventually she moved to Coldwaltham in West Sussex, to live with her daughter. During her latter years she lived in a grace-and-favour apartment in Hampton Court, granted to her by King George V in 1929. After a long illness, Lay Shackleton died in 1936, and was buried at St. Giles Church, Coldwaltham.[1]
Popular culture
Emily Shackleton was played by the actress Phoebe Nicholls in the 2002 TV miniseries, Shackleton, starring Kenneth Branagh as her husband, Ernest Shackleton.[4]
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.[5]
References
- Merrilees, Michelle. "Women of Eastbourne - Lady Emily Shackleton". WayfinderWoman Trust. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- Obituary: Lord Shackleton The Independent, 1994.
- 1927-, Huntford, Roland (1985). Shackleton. London: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 121. ISBN 0340250070. OCLC 13108800.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- "Shackleton (TV Mini-Series 2002) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- Emily Mary (née Dorman), Lady Shackleton, by Unknown photographer. Bromide snapshot print, 1910s. National Portrait Gallery x36032.