
Photo: Internet Archive Book Images / No restrictions (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Douglas Mawson was an explorer, geologist and film director. Born on May 5, 1882, Douglas Mawson was from Shipley, United Kingdom. Death is recorded on October 14, 1958, at the age of 76. Education on record includes University of Sydney. Awards on record include Fellow of the Royal Society, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Founder’s Medal (1915) and 5 more.
My Take
Mawson fascinates me precisely because he is the quieter giant of Antarctic exploration. Standing beside Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton, he often gets overlooked, yet his story of survival and scientific rigor is arguably the most harrowing of all. What strikes me is that he was never a thrill-seeker chasing glory but a geologist who endured the ice in service of knowledge. That stack of medals and fellowships reflects a lifetime of disciplined curiosity, not luck. I admire people who pair raw physical courage with intellectual purpose, and Mawson embodies that rare combination as fully as anyone from the heroic age.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Douglas Mawson
- Name (Japanese)
- ダグラス・モーソン
- Reading
- だぐらす・もーそん
- Born
- May 5, 1882 – October 14, 1958
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Horse
- Origin
- Shipley, United Kingdom
- Occupation
- explorer / geologist / film director / botanical collector / scientific collector
2. Background
- University
- University of Sydney
Awards & achievements
- Fellow of the Royal Society
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- 1915 Founder’s Medal
- 1919 Bigsby Medal
- 1936 Clarke Medal
- 1930 Mueller Medal
- 1916 David Livingstone Centenary Medal
- 1953 Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Douglas Mawson born?
Born May 5, 1882.
When did Douglas Mawson die?
Died October 14, 1958, aged 76.
Where was Douglas Mawson from?
Douglas Mawson was from Shipley, United Kingdom.
What did Douglas Mawson do?
Douglas Mawson worked as explorer, geologist, film director, botanical collector, scientific collector.
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