Adams, British Naval Franklin Search Expedition 1848-1849

• MS 1461/1;BJ Journal, 8 May 1848 to 29 October 1849 [HMS Investigator] 1 volume, holograph

In 1845 Sir John Franklin sailed north in command of the British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition. Sent by the Admiralty the two ships HMS Erebus (Franklin) and HMS Terror (Francis Crozier) were to search for a passage via Lancaster Sound. With provisions designed to last three years the expedition sailed north in May 1845. Whalers in Baffin Bay were the last Europeans to see the two ships in July of 1845.

Many searches were conducted for the missing expedition during the course of which the main facts regarding the route taken and the final fate of the expedition were established. The British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1848-1849 (leader Sir James Clark Ross) was despatched to search along the shores around Lancaster Sound towards Barrow Strait and Wellington Channel and Prince Regent Inlet. During the expedition Ross carried out a survey of the Whalefish Islands. Ice prevented the two vessels HMS Enterprise and HMS Investigator (Edward Bird) from progressing past Lancaster Sound. Sledge parties carried out surveying and depot laying work during the spring. The expedition found no trace of Franklin.

Chronological

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material relating to this expedition including GB 015 Sir George Back, GB 015 Sir John Barrow GB 015 Sir Francis Beaufort, GB 015 Frederick William Beechey, GB 015 William Dyer, GB 015 Jane Franklin, GB 015 Sir Francis Leopold McClintock, GB 015 Robert McClure, GB 015 Sir William Edward Parry, GB 015 Charles Phillips, GB 015 Sir James Clark Ross and GB 015 Sir Edward Sabine.