The Type and Number of Expeditions in the Franklin Search, 1847-1859

Abstract

Forty-nine books and articles published during the last 140 years give two dozen different figures for the number of expeditions that participated in the search for Sir John Franklin (1847-59). The figures range widely, from 17 to more than 70. According to the classification of expeditions presented here, 20 search expeditions, 11 supply expeditions, and one relief expedition (a total of 32) were directly involved in the Arctic search, and four bi-purpose expeditions contributed in some way, making a total of 36. Three aborted search expeditions failed to reach the Arctic.

New light on the personal identification of a skeleton of a member of Sir John Franklin’s last expedition to the Arctic, 1845

“…In the years following the loss of the expedition, many search parties set out to try and ascertain its fate (Ross, 2002). Some of these located skeletal remains, on the southern and western coasts of King William Island and on the adjacent mainland.…”

‘Heroism displayed’: revisiting the Franklin Gallery at the Royal Naval Exhibition, 1891

“…Immediately beyond the cairn, a trove of relics recovered from the Franklin expedition were arranged upon a large table, in the centre of which stood 14 flags, all banners carried by sledges employed in the Franklin search (Ross 2002). In the 'Arctic Sub-Division,' as the gallery was officially titled, a comprehensive history of Arctic research appeared (Royal Naval Exhibition 1892: 44-45).…”

Faces from the Franklin expedition? Craniofacial reconstructions of two members of the 1845 northwest passage expedition

“…Of the remains discovered through search and rescue efforts between 1850 and 1880 (for example Cyriax 1939; Ross 2002) only six individuals have been positively or tentatively identified. Of these, three (John Torrington, William Braine and John Hartnell) died during the first winter of the expedition (between January and April 1846) and were buried on Beechey Island in 1846 (Beattie and Geiger 1987).…”