Robert Allan collection

The collection comprises of correspondence by Allen regarding the voyage of HMS Resolute, British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1850-1851 (leader Horatio Austin)

Robert Calder Allen was born on 8 August 1812. He entered the Royal Navy in 1827 and was promoted to second master in 1838 and master in 1841, later serving in China and Borneo. He joined the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1850-1851 (leader Horatio Austin), as master in HMS Resolute, sent by the Admiralty to search for Sir John Franklin's missing Northwest Passage expedition. During the expedition, Allen led a party to explore Lowther and Garrett Islands in the Barrow Strait.

After the expedition, Allen served in Hogue in the Baltic between 1854 and 1855, advancing to staff commander in 1864 and staff captain in 1867. Retiring in 1870, he was awarded the CB in 1877. He died on 28 January 1903.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

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Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to Who was who, 1897-1916, Adam & Charles Black, London (1920) and British polar exploration and research a historical and medallic record with biographies 1818-1999 by Lieutenant Colonel Neville W Poulsom and Rear Admiral John A L Myres, Savannah Publications London (2000) SPRI Library Shelf 737.2 and Arctic, exploration and development c500 BC to 1915, an encyclopaedia by Clive Holland Garland Publishing, London (1994) and Exploring Polar Frontiers, a historical encyclopaedia by William Mills San Diego and Oxford, 2003

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue, Garland Publishing New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941.

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