 Born into the Irish aristocracy, Palliser eschewed the comforts of his wealth to travel the world.His particular interest lay in British North America, and in 1856 he accepted an offer from the Royal Geographical Society to lead a full scientific expedition to Rupert’s Land.The three reports and map that were submitted to the Royal Geographical Society and to the Colonial Office by the expedition were instrumental in opening the region to settlement, and proved to be invaluable tools for the North-West Mounted Police, boundary surveyors and railway planners.