McVicar, papers

• MS 961;MJ Papers, 1815 to 1844 [Including letters (50)] microfilm

The papers include material on the Hudson's Bay Trading company for which McVicar worked and the British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1825-1827 (leader John Franklin). This expedition was to extend exploration of the coast west from Coppermine River to Icy Cape, Alaska. Setting out from Liverpool in February 1825 destined for Cumberland House, the expedition proceeded to Great Bear Lake where they built their winter quarters, Fort Franklin. In June 1826, the expedition descended the Mackenzie River to the head of its delta, where two parties were formed and separated. The western party under Franklin and George Back charted the Arctic coastline as far as Return Islands while the eastern party under John Richardson and Edward Nicholas Kendall explored and mapped the coastline east to the Coppermine River.

Chronological

The Institute holds correspondence by McVicar amongst the Back collection (MS 395/55;BL Letter to John Franklin, 1 March 1827 [Regarding Arctic overland expedition] holograph)

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collections GB 15 Sir George Back, GB 15 Sir John Franklin, GB 15 Sir John Richardson, GB 15 Eleanor Franklin, GB 15 Sir John Barrow, GB 15 Michael Faraday and GB 15 Edward Kendall