Sir Douglas Mawson: Early Life

Sir Douglas Mawson was born on the 5th of May, 1882, at Shipley, Yorkshire, England. he was the second son of Robert Ellis Mawson and his wife Margret Ann. The family moved to Rooty Hill ,near Sydney in 1884. Douglas was educated at Rooty Hill and at Fort Street Model School in Sydney. At the University of Sydney in 1899-1901 he studied mining, engineering and graduated in 1902. In 1903 he was introduced to scientific exploration. In November 1907 Sir Ernest Shackelton, leader of the British Antarctic Expedition, visited Douglas in Adelaide while studying South Australia on there way South. Douglas got interested in Antarctica and Sir Ernest Shackelton agreed Douglas could go with them.