Shackleton wuxuu ku dhashay Kilkea, County Kildare, Ireland, Shackleton iyo qoyskiisa Anglo-Irish waxay u guureen Sydenham oo ku taal duleedka koonfurta London markii uu toban jir ahaa. Shackleton waayo-aragnimadiisii ugu horreysay ee gobollada barafka waxay ahayd sarkaalkii saddexaad ee Captain Robert Falcon Scott ee "Discovery" safarkii 1901-1904, kaas oo isaga iyo saaxiibbadiis Scott iyo Edward Adrian Wilson ay u direen gurigooda sababo caafimaad awgood, ka dib markii ay sameeyeen rikoor cusub oo koonfureed iyagoo u socdaalaya 82 ° S.
Sanadihii 1907-1909, isaga iyo saddex saaxiib ayaa aasaasay rikoor cusub oo ah koonfurta ugu fog ee koonfurta 88 ° S, oo kaliya 97 mayl juqraafi ah (112 mayl sharci ah ama 180 kiiloomitir) oo ka socota Koonfurta Barriga, horumarka ugu weyn ee barta taariikhda sahaminta. Sidoo kale, xubnaha kooxdiisu waxay fuuleen buurta Erebus, oo ah buurta ugu firfircoon Antarctic. Shackleton waxa uu ku guulaystay guulahaas oo uu ku guulaystay Boqor Edward VII markii uu ku soo laabtay dalkiisa.