Blue plaque for Irish Brightonian who discovered Antarctica 200 years ago

Edward Bransfield was a navigator and explorer who discovered Antarctica in 1820.

A blue plaque will be unveiled at 11.45am during a ceremony at 11 Clifton Road, Brighton today (January 30) to mark the 200th anniversary of Bransfield’s discovery.

Bransfield lived in Clifton Road from 1847 to early 1851 and later moved to 61 London Road where he died on October 30, 1852 at the age of 67.

Deputy mayor councillor Alan Robins will unveil the plaque, accompanied by rear admiral Richard John Lippiett.

Born in County Cork, Ireland in 1785, Bransfield joined the Royal Navy in 1803, rising through the ranks to become an accomplished ship’s master.

Under Bransfield’s command, the English whaling ship ‘Williams’ sailed into unknown waters and made the first sighting of the Antarctic Mainland, known names Trinity Land, on January 30, 1820.

Thousands of tourists now cross these waters, know known as the Bransfield Strait, to reach Antarctica.

Brighton and Hove Commemorative Plaque Panel- now believed to be one of the oldest initiatives for plaque installations in the world - approved the new plaque with support from the Remembering Edward Bransfield Committee.

The committee was established to erect a monument to Bransfield in his birthplace of Ballinacurra, Cork and achieved this goal on Saturday, January 25.

More information about the Brighton and Hove Commemorative Plaque Panel and a full list of plaques in the city can be found at this website.