Tom Crean (explorer)

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Tom Crean (Irish: Tomás Ó Cuirín) (1877–1938) was an Irish sailor and Antarctic explorer who served in the Royal Navy. He left his Kerry farm at 16 to join the navy and took part in three great Antarctic expeditions during the Heroic Age.

First came the Discovery Expedition (1901–04) with Robert Falcon Scott. Crean proved to be a tireless worker, hauling sledges and keeping up morale. He earned the Albert Medal for Lifesaving after crossing dangerous ice to reach a fallen comrade, Edward Evans, and bring him to safety. He also received a Polar Medal for this voyage.

Next was the Terra Nova Expedition (1910–12). The Southern Party pushed toward the Pole, but Crean’s endurance and courage shone when Evans fell seriously ill. Crean and Henry Lashly hauled Evans for many days, then Crean undertook a long solo trek to fetch help. His efforts helped save Evans and the rest of the party, though Scott’s team perished on the return. Crean and Lashly were awarded Polar Medals, and Crean and Lashly also received the Albert Medal.

Crean’s third voyage was Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–16) aboard the Endurance. After the ship was trapped in pack ice and sank, the crew drifted for months. Crean helped lead the group that sailed in small boats to Elephant Island, and, with Shackleton, made the 800-mile voyage in the James Caird to South Georgia to seek help. All crew were eventually rescued.

Retiring from the navy in 1920, Crean ran a pub in Annascaul with his wife, Eileen. He died in 1938 and is remembered with statues, place names, and stories of his adventures.