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200 years ago, people discovered Antarctica – and promptly began profiting by slaughtering some of its animals to near extinction

  • Written by Daniella McCahey, Assistant Professor of History, Texas Tech University
200 years ago, people discovered Antarctica – and promptly began profiting by slaughtering some of its animals to near extinctionWorkmen dissecting a whale carcass in Antarctica, circa 1935Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Two hundred years ago, on November 17, Connecticut ship captain Nathaniel Palmer spotted the Antarctic continent, one of three parties to do so in 1820. Unlike explorers Edward Bransfield and Fabian von Bellingshausen, Palmer was a sealer who quickly saw...

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