Capitán Lawrence

This is quite clearly about Captain Lawrence Edward Grace "Titus" Oates. He was an English Antarctic explorer who died at the age of 31, on March 16th, 1912, just a day from his birthday.

Captain Lawrence was part of an expedition of five English explorers that set out with the goal of being the first in the South Pole. When they finally reached their destination, they found a note left by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, stating that he had beaten them by 35 days. In their return trip, one of the party members died, and the rest suffered from scruvy, frostbite, injuries from falls, and were running very low on supplies. Captain Lawrence had severe frostbite on his feet, and it was suggested that an old wound from the Second Boer War which he served on, reopened on his leg. The party needed to keep a certain rhythm each day to reach a supply depot that could save them, but the Captain's condition was slowing their advance. Finally, Lawrence Oates asked his three companions to leave him behind in his sleeping bag, to which they refused. Frustrated, knowing that his comrades' chances of survival were null if they insisted on having him along, he made a decision. On March 16th, 1912, he went through the pain and effort of putting on his boots, and told his mates: "I am just going outside and may be some time", and walked out of the tent into a -40°C temperature and blizzard.

He sacrificed himself for the good of his friends. Tragically, they died nine days later, just eleven miles from the depot that would save them. Their bodies were found by a search party on November 12, in that same year, but Captain Lawrence's body was never found. A very romantic end to a very gallant gentleman.