Sir John Franklin was a famous explorer who was knighted for his first two journeys to the Arctic. However, his third trip turned into one of the most tragic sea expeditions in history. Franklin and his 128 crew members disappeared without a trace. A massive search effort was launched, driven by the determination of Franklin’s wife, who refused to give up. Let’s dive into the story of Sir John Franklin and his ill-fated voyage.
John Franklin was born on April 16, 1786, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England. He was the ninth of twelve children in a family supported by his father, Willingham Franklin, a successful merchant. John attended King Edward VI Grammar School and first saw the ocean at age ten, sparking his dream of a life at sea. Although his father initially wanted him to join the church, he allowed John to try life at sea, which confirmed John’s passion for naval adventures.
At 14, Franklin joined the Royal Navy and experienced naval warfare at the Battle of Copenhagen. He served as a midshipman on HMS Investigator under his cousin, Captain Matthew Flinders, who mentored him. After the Investigator became unseaworthy, the crew transferred to HMS Porpoise, which was wrecked on a reef. They survived on the reef for six weeks until rescue.
Franklin later served on HMS Bellerophon during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he suffered slight hearing loss from cannon fire. He also participated in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. By the end of the war, Franklin had become a lieutenant but struggled to find work in peacetime. In 1819, at age 32, he was given command of his first Arctic expedition.
Franklin’s Arctic expedition involved two ships: the Trent, which he commanded, and the Dorothea, led by Captain Buchan. The mission aimed to reach the North Pole and discover a Northwest Passage, based on the theory that the sea temperature increased near the North Pole.
Before leaving, the Trent had a leak that required constant repairs, and Franklin struggled to recruit enough sailors. Despite these challenges, Franklin embarked on his first overland expedition in Canada in 1819. The journey was tough, with severe shortages of supplies and harsh conditions, leading to near starvation and the loss of several men.
Despite these hardships, Franklin returned to England as a hero for his bravery. He married Eleanor Anne Porden, and they had a daughter in 1824. Sadly, Eleanor died of tuberculosis while Franklin was on another expedition, and he learned of her death through a newspaper.
Franklin’s second Arctic voyage was more successful, and he returned to England in 1827 to much acclaim. He remarried in 1828 to Jane Griffin, a friend of his first wife, and was knighted in 1829 for his Arctic exploration work. He later served as lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), facing challenges due to colonial disputes.
In June 1844, Franklin returned to London and learned of a new Arctic expedition planned by the British Admiralty. He was appointed to command two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, equipped with new technology and supplies. The expedition set sail on May 19, 1845, with 24 officers and 110 men, last seen on July 26, 1845.
By early 1847, Franklin’s wife, Jane, became worried about her husband’s fate, as two summers had passed with no news. The Admiralty initially trusted Franklin’s skills but eventually organized search parties. Jane Franklin actively sought help, contacting leaders and offering rewards for information.
Many expeditions were launched, but none found the missing ships. In 1850, more naval ships searched Lancaster Sound, and private expeditions joined the efforts. In 1854, explorer John Rae learned from Inuit accounts that Franklin’s ships had become trapped in ice, leading to starvation and cannibalism among the crew.
In 1857, Jane Franklin funded a search expedition led by Leopold McClintock, who found items belonging to the missing crew and evidence of their fate. In 1859, McClintock discovered records detailing the crew’s last days, confirming the tragic outcome of the expedition.
The Fox returned to England with the findings, and McClintock was knighted for his efforts. It took over a century for the two ships to be found, with the Erebus discovered in 2008 and the Terror in 2016, both in remarkable condition.
Research the key events in John Franklin’s life and create a timeline. Use online tools or poster boards to visually represent his journey from childhood to his final expedition. Include important dates, such as his birth, naval battles, Arctic expeditions, and the discovery of his ships. This will help you understand the sequence of events and their significance in his life.
Using a map of the Arctic region, trace the route taken by Franklin’s final expedition. Mark the starting point, the last known location, and where the ships were eventually found. Discuss with your classmates the challenges the crew might have faced in the harsh Arctic environment and how geography played a role in the expedition’s outcome.
In groups, role-play a meeting of one of the search parties organized to find Franklin. Assign roles such as Jane Franklin, a naval officer, and an explorer. Discuss strategies, challenges, and motivations for finding the lost expedition. This activity will help you understand the human element and the determination behind the search efforts.
Imagine you are a crew member on Franklin’s final expedition. Write a diary entry describing a day in the Arctic, including the conditions, your feelings, and interactions with other crew members. This creative writing exercise will help you empathize with the crew’s experiences and the hardships they endured.
Research how modern technology and methods have changed Arctic exploration since Franklin’s time. Present your findings to the class, highlighting advancements such as satellite navigation, icebreakers, and survival gear. This will give you insight into how exploration has evolved and the lessons learned from past expeditions.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
**John Franklin**
Sir John Franklin was knighted for his first two journeys of exploration to the Arctic. However, his third trip to the ice would prove to be one of the most disastrous sea-borne expeditions in history. He and his 128 men simply vanished. For nearly a decade, a massive search was undertaken. Ultimately, it was the perseverance of a wife who refused to let go that uncovered the crew’s terrible fate. In today’s Biographics, we discover the real story of Sir John Franklin and his voyage of terror.
**Early Years**
John Franklin was born on April 16th, 1786, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England. He was the ninth of twelve children to Willingham Franklin and Hannah Weekes. Willingham was a successful merchant, which enabled him to provide a comfortable standard of living for his family. John attended King Edward VI Grammar School and got his first view of the ocean at the age of ten, which inspired him to pursue a career at sea. Although his father initially wanted him to enter the church, he eventually allowed John to experience life at sea through a trial voyage on a merchant ship. This experience confirmed John’s aspirations.
He joined the Royal Navy at age 14 and soon got his first taste of naval warfare at the Battle of Copenhagen. At fifteen, Franklin served as a midshipman on HMS Investigator, captained by his cousin Matthew Flinders, who took a personal interest in training him. After two years, the Investigator became unseaworthy, forcing the crew to transfer to HMS Porpoise for the return journey, which was wrecked on a reef. The crew camped on the reef for six weeks until they were rescued.
Upon returning from Australia, Franklin secured a position as a signals officer on HMS Bellerophon and participated in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he suffered slight deafness from the cannon fire. Seven years later, he was involved in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. By the end of the war, Franklin had risen to the rank of lieutenant but struggled to secure appointments during peacetime. In 1819, at age 32, he was given command of an Arctic expedition, marking his first command.
**To the Arctic**
The two ships for the Arctic expedition were whaling ships purchased by the navy: the Trent, which Franklin commanded, and the Dorothea, captained by Buchan. The mission aimed to reach the North Pole and find a Northwest Passage based on the Open Polar Sea theory, which suggested that the sea temperature increased between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole.
Before departure, the Trent was found to be leaking, requiring constant pumping. Franklin struggled to recruit sailors, leading to a short-handed crew. After weeks, the leak was finally repaired. In the winter of 1819, Franklin embarked on his first overland expedition in Canada, but the party faced severe shortages of supplies and harsh conditions, leading to near starvation and the loss of several men.
Despite the challenges, Franklin returned to England to a hero’s reception, known for his courage during adversity. After recovering, he fell in love with Eleanor Anne Porden, and they had a daughter in 1824. Tragically, Eleanor died of tuberculosis while Franklin was on another expedition, and he learned of her death through a newspaper.
Franklin’s second voyage was more successful, and he returned to England in 1827 to much acclaim. He remarried in 1828 to Jane Griffin, a friend of his first wife, and was knighted in 1829 for his Arctic exploration work. He commanded HMS Rainbow in the Mediterranean and later became lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), where he faced challenges due to colonial infighting.
In June 1844, Franklin returned to London and learned of a new Arctic expedition planned by the British Admiralty. He was appointed to command two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, equipped with new technology and supplies. The expedition set sail on May 19, 1845, with 24 officers and 110 men, last seen on July 26, 1845.
**The Search Begins**
By early 1847, Franklin’s wife grew increasingly concerned about her husband’s fate, as two summers had passed without word. The Admiralty initially expressed confidence in Franklin’s skills but eventually began to prepare search parties. Jane Franklin actively sought assistance, contacting leaders and offering rewards for information.
Various expeditions were launched, but none found the missing ships. In 1850, more naval ships were sent to search Lancaster Sound, and private expeditions joined the efforts. In 1854, explorer John Rae discovered the fate of Franklin and his men through Inuit accounts, revealing that the ships had become trapped in ice, leading to starvation and cannibalism among the crew.
In 1857, Jane Franklin commissioned a search expedition led by Leopold McClintock, who found items belonging to the missing crew and evidence of their fate. The search continued, and in 1859, McClintock discovered records detailing the crew’s last days, confirming the tragic outcome of the expedition.
The Fox returned to England with the findings, and McClintock received a knighthood for his efforts. It would take over a century for the two ships to be found, with the Erebus discovered in 2008 and the Terror in 2016, both in remarkable condition.
Explorer – A person who investigates unknown regions or areas, often for the purpose of discovery. – Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492.
Arctic – The region around the North Pole, characterized by cold temperatures and ice-covered seas. – The Arctic is home to unique wildlife such as polar bears and seals.
Expedition – A journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration or research. – The expedition to the South Pole was led by the famous explorer Roald Amundsen.
North – The direction that is opposite to the south and is usually at the top of a map. – The compass needle always points to the north, helping sailors navigate their ships.
Pole – Either of the two points on the Earth’s surface where the Earth’s axis of rotation meets its surface, known as the North Pole and the South Pole. – Reaching the North Pole was a significant achievement for early explorers.
Voyage – A long journey involving travel by sea or in space. – The voyage of the Mayflower in 1620 brought the Pilgrims to the New World.
Supplies – Essential items needed for a particular purpose, especially for survival during a journey or expedition. – The explorers packed enough supplies to last them through the harsh winter.
Search – The act of looking for something or someone, often involving exploration or investigation. – The search for new trade routes led to the discovery of the Americas.
Crew – A group of people who work together on a ship, aircraft, or expedition. – The crew of the ship worked tirelessly to ensure a safe journey across the ocean.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about history helps us understand how past events have shaped the world today.
