Kellett, correspondence

• MS 1125;MJ Letter book, 1845 to 1850 [In HMS Herald] microfilm

The latter book covers the period when Kellett was in command of HMS Herald. The vessel was employed in survey work in the Pacific Ocean when during the summers of 1848 to 1850, Herald was detached from this service to lead the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1848-1850, assisting HMS Plover (Thomas Moore) in the search for the missing British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1845-1848 in Bering Strait. During the summer of 1849, Kellett discovered and landed on Ostrov Geral'd [Herald Island] from where he obtained a distant view of Ostrov Vrangelya [Wrangel Island]. The following summer, Kellett met Robert McClure, commander of HMS Investigator on the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1850-1854, off Cape Lisburne, Alaska.

As deposited at the institute

This is a copy

The Institute holds letters by Kellett amongst the Back and Richardson-Voss collections

• MS 395/46;BL KELLETT Letter to George Back, undated [General news] holograph
• MS 1503/44/6;RV KELLETT Letter to John Richardson, June 1851 [Requesting assistance in describing specimens]

The Institute holds archival collections for Sir John Franklin and several archival collections containing material relating to the expedition Kellett was dispatched to assist, the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1848-1852 (leader Thomas Moore)

Original letter book held by the United Kingdom National Maritime Museum (1982)