The 'James Caird'

The James Caird is the 23 foot (8m) whaler in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and five companions made the epic open boat voyage of 800 miles (1,300 km) from Elephant Island, 500 miles (800 km) south of Cape Horn, to South Georgia during the Antarctic winter of 1916. She is now preserved at Dulwich College, Shackleton's old school in south London, as a memorial to an illustrious son. The boat is named after Sir James Key Caird, a Dundee jute manufacturer and philanthropist, whose generous gift financed the Endurance expedition.

The James Caird Society, established in 1994 and a registered charity, is the only institution that exists to preserve the memory, honour the remarkable feats of discovery in the Antarctic and commend the outstanding qualities of leadership associated with the name of Sir Ernest Shackleton. (1874-1922).

Lord Shackleton, son of the explorer, was the Society's Life President until his death in 1994. His daughter, the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton, has been President since l995. It was founded by Harding Dunnett and the current Chairman is Admiral Sir James Perowne KBE.

The Society now has a membership of over 600 worldwide, including over 120 in North America and others in Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Zambia.

It is usually possible to view the James Caird during term time; please report to reception first to obtain a visitor's pass.