Relic of the Franklin Expedition of 1845

Engraving showing a relic of Sir John Franklin's ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845, which was found by Francis Leopold McClintock in 1859. This image shows a silver medal won by the assistant surgeon on the Franklin expedition, A. McDonald, for excellence in a medical examination in 1838. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, to look for the Northwest passage round the northern coast of Canada. The expedition, commanded by Sir John Franklin, disappeared from view late in 1845 and none of the men were ever seen again. In fact the ships made it to the King William Island region, then got stuck in the ice. With supplies running out the surviving crew abandoned ship and headed south. However, none made it to safety and it is assumed all died from disease, exposure or starvation. From 1848 onwards a number of relief expeditions were sent to find Franklin, but it was only in 1859 that Francis Leopold McClintock was able to confirm Franklin's fate

1838 Admiralty Assumed Commanded Confirm Disappeared Erebus Examination Excellence Expeditions Exposure Fact Fate Fated Franklins Mcclintock Mcdonald None Northwest Onwards Relic Starvation Stuck Surgeon Surviving

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