Fin D Gallery

The End of Sir John Franklin's 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

Captain Sir John Franklin (1786-1847)

Engraving of Captain Sir John Franklin in his Royal Navy uniform, pictured shortly before departing on his ill-fated 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

My wife and my mother-in-law. They are both in this picture

My wife and my mother-in-law. They are both in this picture - find them. Illustration is an optical illusion showing a portrait of the artist's wife, head-and-shoulders, facing left away from the viewer, and his elderly mother-in-law, head-and-shoulders, facing left, with a kerchief over her head. Date 1915 November 6. Date:

© Mary Evans / Library of Congress