Keeping it in the family: Relationships between Polar medallists

Abstract

During the 19th century, members of British Arctic expeditions received one of two silver Arctic medals. In 1904, the British Polar Medal was established in both silver and bronze to returning members of the British National Antarctic Expedition. Subsequently awarded to members of both Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, the medal in silver is still awarded today. This paper explores the family links of the recipients from 1904 to the present. Polar medallists related by blood comprise five pairs of brothers, five father-and-son pairs, one grandfather-and-grandson pair, one uncle-and-nephew pair and six pairs of cousins including one male-to-female pair. A female-to-female link has yet to be recorded. Family links resulting from marriage include six husband-and-wife pairs and four pairs of brothers-in-law.