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The Tragic Fate of Sir John Franklin's Lost Polar Expedition

Eric Nelson

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Published in Ice Blink: The Tragic Fate Of Sir John Franklin S Lost Polar Expedition

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In May 1845, Sir John Franklin and his crew of 129 men set sail from England on the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror on a mission to find the Northwest Passage, a mythical sea route that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The expedition was well-equipped and experienced, but it would ultimately end in tragedy.

Ice Blink: The Tragic Fate of Sir John Franklin's Lost Polar Expedition

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The ships became trapped in ice in Baffin Bay in September 1846. The crew spent the next two winters frozen in the ice, and they began to suffer from scurvy and lead poisoning. In April 1848, the crew abandoned the ships and set out on foot for the nearest settlement, Fort Resolution. However, they were too weak and ill to make it, and they all died along the way.

The fate of the Franklin expedition remained a mystery for many years. In 1854, a search expedition led by Sir John Ross discovered the abandoned ships in Prince Regent Inlet. The ships' logs revealed that the crew had died from scurvy and lead poisoning.

In recent years, there have been several new expeditions to the wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror. These expeditions have uncovered new evidence about the fate of the crew, including the discovery of human remains and artifacts. The tragic fate of the Franklin expedition is a reminder of the dangers of Arctic exploration, and it is a story that continues to fascinate people today.

The Search for the Lost Ships

The search for the Franklin expedition began almost immediately after the ships were reported missing. In 1848, the British government sent out a search expedition led by Sir John Ross. Ross's expedition searched the area around Baffin Bay, but he was unable to find any trace of the lost ships.

In the years that followed, there were numerous other search expeditions, both public and private. In 1854, a search expedition led by Sir Edward Belcher discovered the abandoned ships in Prince Regent Inlet. The ships' logs revealed that the crew had died from scurvy and lead poisoning.

The Fate of the Crew

The crew of the Franklin expedition died from a combination of scurvy and lead poisoning. Scurvy is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. Lead poisoning is caused by the ingestion of lead, which can be found in food, water, or the environment.

The Franklin expedition was well-equipped with food, but it was not enough to prevent the crew from developing scurvy. The ships' stores of fresh food were quickly depleted, and the crew was forced to rely on canned food and salt meat. These foods were not nutritious enough to prevent scurvy, and the crew began to develop symptoms of the disease.

Lead poisoning was another major factor in the death of the Franklin expedition. The crew's food was contaminated with lead, which leached from the lead-lined cans in which it was stored. The crew also ingested lead from the water they drank, which was contaminated with lead from the ships' pipes.

The combination of scurvy and lead poisoning weakened the crew and made them more susceptible to other diseases. The crew also suffered from exposure to the cold and from the harsh conditions of the Arctic environment.

The tragic fate of the Franklin expedition is a reminder of the dangers of Arctic exploration. The expedition was well-equipped and experienced, but it was still no match for the unforgiving conditions of the Arctic.

Legacy of the Franklin Expedition

The Franklin expedition is one of the most famous and tragic stories in Arctic exploration. The expedition's failure to find the Northwest Passage and the death of its crew had a profound impact on the British public. The expedition also led to a number of important scientific discoveries, including the discovery of the Beaufort Sea and the Magnetic North Pole.

The legacy of the Franklin expedition continues to this day. The expedition's story is still told in books, movies, and television shows. The expedition's artifacts are on display in museums around the world. The Franklin expedition is a reminder of the dangers of Arctic exploration, but it is also a story of courage and perseverance.

The HMS Erebus And HMS Terror Trapped In Ice During The Franklin Expedition Ice Blink: The Tragic Fate Of Sir John Franklin S Lost Polar Expedition