James William Slessor Marr

James William Slessor Marr (* 1902 in Aberdeenshire, † 30 April 1965, London) was a Scottish marine biologist and polar explorer.

Marr was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Ernest Shackleton chose him and Norman E. Mooney as a Boy Scout as part of the Shackleton - Rowett Expedition in 1921 for service on board the ship quest. The experiences of this expedition wrote Marr in 1923 in his book Into The Frozen South down.

He was also a member of the British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition, led by Douglas Mawson. After he completed his training as a marine biologist, by participating in the so-called Discovery Investigations. These were state-funded research journey, and lay their base at King Edward Point on South Georgia. Marr doing specialized in the biology of the Antarctic krill.

During the Second World War who had been promoted to Lieutenant Marr led the operation Tabarin. This expedition was undertaken in 1943 by the UK to build lasting manned stations in Antarctica. Marr led the team that wintered in Port Lockroy, 1944. From 1949 until his death Marr was director of the National Oceanographic Institute of Great Britain.

Awards and honors

• On October 7, 1941 Marr was awarded the Polar Medal ( bronze clasp ) - " for good services during the years 1925-1939 at the Royal research ship " Discovery II "and" William Scoresby ": James William Sleesor Marr, Esq, MA,. B.Sc. (Temporary Lieutenant, R.N.V.R. ), H. M. Ships Discovery II and William Scoresby. "
• On 30 November 1954, the Polar Medal " for good service in the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey on Antarctic expeditions. Temporary Lieutenant - Commander James William Slessor Marr, RNVR, Base Leader, Port Lockroy, 1944 "