Robert Falcon Scott Markham's first choice as leader but, having decided on him, the older man's support remained constant. There were committee battles over the scope of Scott's responsibilities, with the Royal Society pressing to put a scientist in charge of the expedition's programme while Scott merely commanded the ship. Eventually, however, Markham's view prevailed; Scott was given overall command, and was promoted to the rank of commander before "Discovery" sailed for the Antarctic on 6 August 1901. King Edward VII, who showed a keen interest in the expedition, visited the Discovery the day before the ship left British shores in August 1901,
David O'Keefe (ship captain) allowed him to own an island, of which he was considered "king". Reportedly he had his own emblem, which showed the US flag waving over the letters "O K." He took two Yapese wives, despite already having a wife and daughter in Savannah. In 1901 he died on the ship "Santa Cruz" returning to Savannah. "His Majesty O'Keefe" is the story of O'Keefe's life on Yap. A film of the same name starring Burt Lancaster was made in 1954. David O'Keefe (ship captain) David Dean O'Keefe (1824 or 1828 – 1901) was an Irish-American ship captain who become a historical