Expedition newspaper

Archive Unit

Scope and Content

  • MS 438/12;EN Expedition paper, 1819 to 1820, 1 volume, handwritten

Administrative / Biographical History

The British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1819-1820 (leader William Edward Parry) was despatched by the Admiralty to continue the work begun by Ross's 1818 expedition by sailing to and exploring Lancaster Sound. After sailing north through Davis Strait to Baffin Bay the two ships HMS Hecla (Parry) and HMS Griper (Mathew Lindon) entered Lancaster Sound and explored the Prince Regent Inlet area before ice conditions forced them back. The crossing of the 110°W meridian earned the expedition a 5,000 reward for the partial discovery of a passage. HMS Hecla and HMS Griper became the first Navy ships to deliberately winter in the Arctic.

Arrangement

As deposited

Related Material

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collections GB 015 Sir William Edward Parry, GB 015 Sir Edward Sabine and GB 015 Mathew Liddon.

Additional Information

Material from this expedition including the barrel organ used to entertain the men is on display at the Scott Polar Research Institute museum (open Tuesday to Saturday, 2.30 to 4pm)