Franklin, British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1819-1822

Scope and Content

  • MS 248/275;BJ Record, 21 May and 16 June 1819 [Astronomical observations] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 248/277;BJ Journal (continuation), 16 April to 13 June 1820 and 27 May to 7 September 1822 [To departure from Fort Enterprise, meteorological observations, Fort Chipewyan Athabasca Lake to embarkation at York Factory, Hudson's Bay] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 248/278;BJ Journal, June 1820 to 16 April 1821 [Occurrences from Fort Chipewyan] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 248/279;D Notes and correspondence, January to September 1822 [Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lakes, Moose Deer Island and York Factory] 24 leaves, holograph

Administrative / Biographical History

The British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1819-1822 (Led by Franklin) sometimes called the first Arctic Land Expedition sent to explore the north coast of America east from the mouth of Coppermine River to Hudson Bay. The expedition made use of both the Hudson&'s Bay Company and the North West Company. After wintering at Cumberland House on the Saskatchewan River in 1819, the expedition, using Indian guides travelled via Fort Providence to Winter Lake. Here they erected Fort Enterprise, which became their winter quarters for 1820. The expedition left the fort in June 1821 and reached the sea in July before turning back at Point Turnagain on Dease Strait. The return journey was best with hardships, eleven members of the coastal party died from starvation and exposure. After a final winter in the north the survivors departed for England in the autumn of 1822. This expedition carried out detailed survey work exploring and charting newly discovered coastline and made extensive collections.

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

Material relating to this expedition can be found amongst SPRI archival collections |GB 15 Sir George Back, GB 15 Robert Hood, GB 15 Sir William Edward Parry, GB 15 Sir John Richardson and GB 15 William Wentzel

Geographical Names