James Simpson (explorer)


Cortlandt James Woore Simpson, CBE, DSC, PM was an English polar explorer and naval officer.

Personal life

Simpson was born into a naval family. His grandfather Vice-Admiral Cortlandt Herbert Simpson was the commander of HMS Mullett and other vessels, and his father Rear Admiral Cortlandt Herbert Simpson also had a distinguished naval career. His family home for three generations was in Stoke-by-Nayland in Suffolk. Simpson sold it in 1969, building a smaller house for himself in the grounds, before eventually moving to Somerset and then to Devon in later life.
Simpson was married four times and had one daughter.
His great-grandfather was John Busby, who along with his great-uncle James Busby were the fathers of the Australian wine industry.

Naval career

He was commissioned into the Royal Navy following graduation from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. After service on several vessels, he resigned his commission in 1936 in order to study electrical engineering at the University of London.
He returned to the Royal Navy in 1939 as an electrical officer, serving as an anti-submarine specialist, and in destroyers.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the 1945 King's Birthday Honours.
He retired from the Royal Navy in 1961.

British North Greenland expedition

North Ice was the name of a research station of the British North Greenland expedition on the inland ice of Greenland. The expedition was led by Simpson, for which he received the Royal Geographical Society's Patron's Gold Medal in 1955.