Sir James Clark Ross Portrait of Sir James Clark Ross by John R. Wildman. The object in the bottom righthand corner is a dip circle, designed by Robert Were Fox and used by Ross to discover the magnetic north pole. Born 15 April 1800 London, England Died 3 April 1862(1862-04-03) (aged 61) Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire, England Residence Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England Nationality British Known for Antarctic exploration