Carl Anton Larsen (August 7, 1860 – December 8, 1924) was a
Norwegian Antarctic Explorer, who made important contributions to the exploration of
Antarctica, the most significant being the first discovery of
fossils, for which he received the Back Grant from the
Royal Geographical Society. In December 1893 he became the first person to
ski in Antarctica on the
Larsen Ice Shelf which was subsequently named after him. Larsen is considered the founder of the Antarctic
whaling industry and the settlement at
Grytviken on the British-administered island of
South Georgia. In 1910, after some years' residence on South Georgia, he took British citizenship. The Norwegian whale factory ship was named after him.