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,
Robert Julian Scott Robert Julian Scott Robert Julian Scott MIME, MICE, FAIEE, NZSocCE (14 September 1861 – 8 November 1930) was a notable New Zealand railway engineer and professor of engineering. He was also the creator of possibly New Zealand's first indigenous steam buggy in 1881. He was born in Plymouth, Devonshire, England, on 14 September 1861. The son of Commander Robert Anthony Edwards Scott RN, and Fanny Mary Julian. He was the cousin of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott. On 22 October 1889 Scott married Gertrude Elizabeth Bowen, the daughter of Georgina Eliza Markham and Charles Bowen. Although they had no children