Geologist
- Discovery 1901-04
Hartley Ferrar was born in Ireland, though had
lived much of his life in South Africa, he had returned to England
to be educated, first at Oundle School, Northamptonshire and then at
Sidney Sussex College Cambridge.
Ferrar graduated in June 1901, he was appointed
geologist to the Discovery Expedition a month later in July
and set sail for Antarctica in the August. He was not an experienced
geologist and was not at all well prepared for the work he would
encounter in the South though spent much time applying himself to
bookwork and study to learn all he could in the time available. He
was one of the men who reinforced Scott's idea that young fit men
should be taken on Antarctic expeditions despite the relative lack
of experience, as Scott puts it:
"...the result of Ferrar's work
was to throw considerable light on the structure of a vast land
mass, no inconsiderable proportion of the surface of the earth; it
was a result, therefore that cannot but be highly important to
geological science, and it was achieved by physical labour which
might not have been within the powers of a more experienced
geologist"
Landmarks named after Hartley Ferrar
Feature Name:
Ferrar
Glacier
Type: glacier
Latitude: 77°46´S
Longitude: 163°00´E
Description: Glacier about 35 mi long, flowing from the
plateau of Victoria Land west of the Royal Society Range to New
Harbour in McMurdo Sound. The glacier makes a right (east) turn
northeast of Knobhead, where it is apposed, i.e., joined in
Siamese-twin fashion, to Taylor Glacier. From there, it continues
east along the south side of Kukri Hills to New Harbour. Discovered
by the BrNAE (1901-04) under Capt. Robert F. Scott, R.N. The name
Ferrar Glacier was originally applied both to the part of this
glacier below its right turn and to the present Taylor Glacier.
Griffith Taylor, geologist of the BrAE (1910-14) under Scott, found
evidence that these are not two parts of a single glacier but are
two glaciers apposed. With this discovery Scott gave the names
Ferrar Glacier and Taylor Glacier essentially as now applied; the
Taylor Glacier (q.v.) makes a left turn at Cavendish Rocks and
drains east along the north side of Kukri Hills.
Variant Name(s)
-------------
East Fork
Lower Ferrar Glacier
New Harbour Glacier
South Arm
