McClintock, British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1852-1854

This material is held atScott Polar Research Institute Archives, University of Cambridge

  • Reference
    • GB 15 Sir Francis Leopold McClintock/British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1852-1854
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1852-1854
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 3 journals: on microfilm

Scope and Content

  • MS 1:MJ Journal, April 1852 to October 1854 [HMS Intrepid] microfilm
  • MS 216/1/1;MJ Journal, 14 September to 2 October 1852 [Cart journey] microfilm
  • MS 216/1/4;MJ Journal, 4 April to 18 July 1853 [Sledge journey] microfilm

Administrative / Biographical History

The British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1852-1854 (leader Henry Kellett) was under the general command of the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1852-1854 (leader Sir Edward Belcher), instructed by the Admiralty to search for the missing British Naval Northwest passage Expedition, 1845-1848 (leader Sir John Franklin) in the region of Melville Island. HMS Resolute and HMS Intrepid (McClintock) sailed from London in April 1852, Kellett parted from Belcher at Beechey Island and proceeded to Dealy Island off the south coast of Melville Island where he put into winter quarters. During a sledging journey in the autumn of 1852, George Mecham, first lieutenant of Resolute, discovered a note left by Robert McClure at Winter Harbour on Melville Island, describing the position of HMS Investigator which had been beset by ice in Mercy Bay since autumn 1851 (British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1850-1855 leader Richard Collinson). The crew were later rescued and transferred to Resolute and Intrepid in the spring of 1853. On the voyage home in the summer of 1853, the two ships became beset in Melville Sound and were forced to spend a further winter in the Arctic. Receiving orders from Belcher to abandon both vessels, the crews travelled to Beechey Island where they returned to England in the depot ship HMS North Star and the supply ships HMS Phoenix and HMS Talbot. In addition to the rescue of McClure, Kellett' expedition was credited with the discovery and charting of Prince Patrick, Eglinton and Emerald Islands and the completion of the charting of Melville Island.

Arrangement

Chronological

Alternative Form Available

These are copies

Related Material

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material relating to this expedition, see SPRI collections GB 015 Sir George Back, GB 015 Emile de Bray, GB 015 George de Bray, GB 015 George McDougall, GB 015 Sir George Strong Nares, GB 015 Bedford Pim, GB 015 Henry Kellett and GB 015 Robert Charles Scott for more information

Location of Originals

MS 1;MJ Original held by the National Maritime Museum, MS 216;MJ held by the Public Record Office England (1982)