Sir Albert Hastings Markham

Born on 11 November 1841, Albert Hastings Markham built a long career in the Royal Navy after entering service in 1856. He served in many parts of the world, including the China Station, the Mediterranean, Australia, and the Pacific, and he rose steadily through the ranks to become an admiral.

Markham is especially remembered for exploration. During the British Arctic Expedition of 1875–1876, he commanded HMS Alert, and his sledging party reached 83°20'26" N in May 1876, a record for the time that stood until 1895. He also traveled in the Arctic beyond that expedition and later took part in Antarctic planning, serving on committees connected with Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery expedition.

Alongside his naval career, he wrote extensively about his voyages and observations, helping bring distant regions and naval life to a wider public. He was knighted in 1903, served as commander-in-chief at the Nore from 1901 to 1904, and retired in 1906. Markham died on 28 October 1918.