Scott commanded the National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904, organised by the Royal Geographical Society,  reaching the furthest south than anyone before them.  

The National Antarctic Expedition fuelled Scott's ambition to be the first man to reach the South Pole.  His quest began aboard the Terra Nova in June 1910.  Despite the challenges of the weather, difficult terrain and loss of equipment, ponies and dogs, Scott successfully led his expedition reaching the pole on 17th January  
1912 only to discover that Norwegian Roald Amundsen had got there first.  On the return trip, Scott and the 4 other remaining men perished.

Eight months after their deaths, a search party discovered the bodies of Scott, Wilson and Bowers in their tent along with Scott's diary.  Their bodies were buried under the tent.

Scott was posthumously awarded a Knight Commander of the Bath and his wife, Kathleen, received the privileges of the rank. Over 30 memorials were built to him in Britain and around the world, and the Scott Polar Research Institute was established to continue his scientific research.