January 05

Born in Paris in 1643, Chardin traveled to Persia with the French East India Company. He spent over a decade in the Near East, studying local customs and court life. His multi-volume work Travels of Sir John Chardin remains a primary source on 17th-century Persia. Elected to the Royal Society in 1681, he was praised for his meticulous observations. Chardin returned to England and later served as Comptroller of the Mint, dying on January 5, 1713.

Born in County Kildare in 1874, Ernest Shackleton began his career in the merchant navy before joining Antarctic voyages under Robert Falcon Scott. He led the Nimrod Expedition (1907–09), which came within 97 miles of the South Pole. In 1914 he commanded the Endurance Expedition, where his ship was crushed by ice and he orchestrated a legendary open-boat rescue of all crew members. His unwavering commitment to his men and remarkable navigational skills made him a hero of polar exploration. Shackleton's expeditions expanded scientific knowledge and inspired future generations of adventurers.