Exploration Gallery

Captain Francis Crozier of HMS Terror, 1845

Engraving of Captain Francis Crozier (1796-1848) of HMS Terror, pictured shortly before departing on the ill-fated Franklin Arctic expedition of 1845. 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

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Scott of the Antarctic - page from The Sphere

Page from the special Scott of the Antarctic memorial number featuring a photograph of the Scott Antarctic medal, presented to the team after returning from their first successful expedition in 1904, a photograph of Scott himself surveying ice through a telescope and the expedition's photographer Herbert Ponting. The bottom half of the page is decorated with a beautifully drawn polar themed border featuring skis, huskies, supplies and equipment

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845

Engraving showing the end of Sir John Franklin's 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 Franklin's fate

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans