Relics of the Franklin Expedition of 1845

Relics of Sir John Franklin's ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845, which were found by Francis Leopold McClintock in 1859. The items shown are (left to right): bag of shot, clay pipe, Star from a Marine's shako, mitten, tin can and snow goggles. 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, on board the yacht Fox, was able to confirm Franklin's fate

Admiralty Assumed Commanded Confirm Disappeared Erebus Expeditions Exposure Fact Fate Fated Franklins Mcclintock Mitten None Northwest Onwards Relics Shako Starvation Stuck Surviving

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