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The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845

The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845


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The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845

Engraving showing the end of Sir John Franklins ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845, entitled They Forged the last link with their lives. This engraving was taken from a painting by W. Thomas Smith, exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1896. 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 all died from disease, exposure or starvation. This image shows the end of that desperate attempt to reach safety. From 1848 onwards a number of relief expeditions were sent to find Franklin, but it was only in 1859 that Francis Leopold McClintock was finally able to confirm Franklins fate

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Media ID 4382785

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217709

1845 1848 1859 1896 Abandoned Academy Admiralty Arctic Attempt Commanded Confirm Crew Desperate Died Disappeared Disease Entitled Exhibited Expeditions Exploration Exposure Fact Fate Fated Fin D Finally Forged Francis Franklin Headed Leopold Link Mcclintock North West Onwards Passage Polar Reach Region Running Safety Starvation Stuck Supplies Surviving Made Smith Will I Am


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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative engraving, titled 'They Forged the last link with their lives,' commemorates the tragic end of Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition of 1845. The British Admiralty had dispatched two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, under Franklin's command, in search of the elusive Northwest Passage along the northern coast of Canada. However, the expedition vanished without a trace towards the end of 1845, leaving the fate of its members a mystery. The engraving, taken from a painting by W. Thomas Smith and exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1896, depicts the final, desperate attempt of the survivors to reach safety. Stranded on King William Island, with supplies dwindling, the crew had abandoned their ships and embarked on a treacherous journey south. However, none of them made it to safety. They succumbed to disease, exposure, and starvation. The image portrays the grim reality of their situation, with the weary and emaciated figures of the crew trudging through the snow, their eyes fixed on the distant horizon, while their ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, remain trapped in the ice behind them. The haunting image serves as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of Arctic exploration and the indomitable human spirit that drives men to push the boundaries of the known world. Despite numerous relief expeditions sent from 1848 onwards, it was not until 1859 that the tragic fate of Sir John Franklin and his crew was finally confirmed by Francis Leopold McClintock. This poignant engraving stands as a testament to their courage and the enduring allure of the Arctic, which continues to captivate and challenge explorers to this day.

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