Sir John Franklin
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LIFE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AXD THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. BY CAPTAIN ALBERT HASTINGS MARKHAM, R.N., A.D.C. LONDON: GEORGE PHILIP & SON, 32 FLEET STREET; LIVERPOOL: 45 TO 51 SOUTH CASTLE STREET. 1891. ttbe Wlot·It>'s <Sreat lEJploreta ant, JEtploratt ons. Edited by J. SCOTT KELTIF., Librarian, Royal Geographical Society; .H J. l\iAcKINDER, M.A., Reader in Geographv at the University of Oxford; and E. G. RAVENSTEIN, F.R.G.S. LIFE OF SIR JOHN FRANI{LIN. The World's Great Explorers- and Explorations. The following Volumes are already published, and may now be obtained in three different bindings:- Price per vol. ,. Plain neat cloth cover • , • • • • , • • 4/6 2. Cloth gilt cover, specially cesigned by Lewis F. Day, gilt edges • s/- 3· Half-bound polished morocco, marbled edges • 7/6 I, JOHN DAVIS, Arctic Explorer and Early India Navigator. By CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, C.B., F.R.S. Crown 8vo. With 24 Illustrations and 4 Coloured Maps. [Second Edition.] "If the succeeding volumes attain the high standard of excellence of ~his 'Life of John Davis,' the Series will, when complete, form a biographical history of geographical discovery of the utmost value aud interest." A cademy. 2. PALESTINE. By MAJOR C.R. CONDER, R.E., Leader of the Palestine Exploring Expeditions. Crown 8vo. With 26 Illustrations and 7 Coloured Maps. [Second Edition.] "It is charmingly written, contains much information in a conver;ent form, and is well illustrated by woodcuts and maps."-Atkenaum. 3. MUNGO PARK AND THE NIGER. By JOSEPH THOMSON, Author of "Through Masai Land," &c. Crown 8vo. With 24 Illustrations and 7 Coloured Maps. "Mr. Thomson's book is to be strongly recommended to all who wish to understand the position in Africa to-day, as an intelligent Englishman should d0."-Saturday Relliew, 4. MAGELLAN and the First Circumnavigation of the Globe. By F. H. H. GurLLEMARD, M.A., M.D., Late Lec turer in Geography at the University of Cambridge. Crown 8vo. With 17 Illustrations and 13 Coloured and 5 Uncoloured :\1aps. A few copies may still be obtaz"ned of the Large Paper Edition, on hand made paper. Price on application. "This is not only a record of splendid and successful adventure (not the less successful because Magellan died, like Wolfe, in the arms of victory) but the story of an exquisitely noble life."-County Gentleman. 5. JOHN FRANKLIN AND THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. By CAPTAIN ALBERT MARKHAM, R.N. Crown 8vo. With 20 Illustrations and 4 Coloured Maps. To be followed very shortly by 6. LIVINGSTONE AND THE EXPLORATION OF CENTRAL AFRICA. By H. H. JOHNSTON, C.B., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., &c., H.M. Commissioner and Consul-General. With ;?4 Illustrations from Photographs and from the Author's Draw ings, and 3 Coloured Maps. -(l.lso a !-_imited Edi·ion (Large Paper), printed on hand-made paper, with additional lllustrationsfrom the Author's Drawings and an Etched Frontispiece. Price 25s. net. ' SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, ( From a lit/iograj,lted coj,! of" tl,e painting by Negelin.) PREF ACE. "To live with fame The gods allow to many; but to die "With equal lustre is a blessing Heaven Selects from all the choicest boons of fate, And with a sparing hand on few bestows." -GLOVER. THERE are few names that have been more prominently brought to the notice of students of geographical re search, during the present century, than that of Sir John Franklin. It will occur to them as that of a skilful sailor, an ardent explorer, an able administrator, and above all, as that of a daring and successful Arctic navigator. Not only is his name connected with good and useful service accomplished in those capacities, and more especially with the discovery of those northern regions in the exploration of which he eventually sacri ficed his life, but it is also associated at an early period of his professional career, with the survey and explora tion of that Greater Britain of the southern hemisphere, Australia. Moreover, it was subsequently connected for many years with Van Diemen's Land, over which colony he ruled with ability, and with a wise forethought for it!' future prosperity and development. The history of the life of such a man, one who has vi PREFACE. so deservedly earned for himself a conspicuous place on the list of distinguished explorers in various parts of the globe, should not remain untold and practically unknown. It is therefore not inappropriate that it should form the subject of a biographical sketch, in a series the main object of which is to impart geographical information. In his exertions to increase our knowledge of geo graphy, especially in those regions whose southern limit is bounded by the Arctic circle, Sir John Franklin occupies an almost unique position among the numerous gallant and able explorers who have both preceded and followed him. It is only necessary to glance in a superficial way over the published records of Franklin's naval career, to be satisfied that he was a man of dauntless courage, indomitable energy and perseverance, brave and resolute in overcoming difficulties. He was a courageous leader, combining tact and discretion with a daring which might almost be considered a~ bordering on rashness; above all, he possessed a rare capacity for encountering, with a cheerful and contented spirit, hardships and privations of no ordinary kind. He was, in its fullest sense, a born leader, evincing on several occasions a resolute determination and dogged inflexibility of purpose, under circumstances and con ditions sufficiently appalling to test the courage and the endurance of the bravest of men. To those who have interested themselves in Arctic research, the name of Sir John Franklin is of course familiar, not only from the discoveries he achieved in high latitudes, but also on account of that halo of romantic uncertainty which kept his fate, and that of his brave companions, enshrouded in mystery for such a long time. The numerous expeditions that were de spatched for the pµrpose of endeavouring to obtain PREFACE. vii information regarding the missing ships, also absorbed a large share of public interest for many years. It is a very safe assertion to make that if it had not been for Sir J obn Franklin, and the exertions that were made to ascertain his fate, our knowledge of the North Polar regions would be a great deal more limited than it is at present; for the fact must not be lost sight of that the result of the examination made by the several search ex peditions sent in quest of Sir John and those under his command, was the achievement of valuable geographical and other scientific results, that would otherwise, in all probability, never have been accomplished. It is therefore only due to the memory of Sir John Franklin to say that to him, directly and indirectly, we owe the discovery and exploration of a very large portion of the Arctic basin. It is earnestly to be hoped that the work so energetic ally and so ably commenced by Sir John Franklin, and for the accomplishment of which he laid down his life, may again be resumed, and eventually brought to a glorious and successful termination. We shall then be able to say, that the lives of Franklin and his gallant companions have not been sacrificed in vain, and we shall be able to reflect with pride on the share, and let us hope it will be a large one, that our countrymen have had in the successful achievement of this great geogra phical work. In the compilation of this volume I have endeavoured to introduce, as much as possible, in accordance with the expressed wish of my Editors, the personal element, and to render it as true and as complete a narrative of the life of Sir John Franklin as the materials at my disposal would permit. The authorities I have been able to refer to, for reli able information in connection with his life, have been viii PREFACE. very few, and have been confined principally to the logs, journals, and other documents I was permitted to con sult in the Public Record Office. The compilation of the work has, in consequence of the nature of my professional duties, occupied me for some time, but the dove-tailing together of all the in formation I have succeeded in obtaining, and which has reached me in a somewhat piecemeal fashion, has been a labour of love, and a task in the execution of which I have been deeply interested. Any shortcomings or incoherence in the narrative that may strike the critical reader will, I hope, be ascribed to the difficulties under which I laboured, and to the meagreness of all authentic information that has hitherto been published in connec tion with the subject of this memoir. I was fortunately successful at the outset in enlisting the sympathy of Miss Sophia Cracroft, the talented niece of Sir John Franklin, in my undertaking, who most kindly placed at my disposal information that I should otherwise have been unable to obtain. My thanks are also clue to Colonel John Barro,v, who, directly he was made acquainted with the nature of my work, most generously afforded me all the assistance in his power, and kindly placed at my disposal his col lection of the portraits of Arctic worthies, painted by the eminent artist Mr. Stephen Pearce, some of which have been photographed and reproduced here as illustra tions. And last, but not least, my grateful thanks are due to Sir Leopold M'Clintock, who kindly looked over the proofs of my narrative relating to that most successful journey of his which definitely cleared up the mystery attached to the fate of Sir John Franklin, and who also made many valuable suggestions of whioh I was only too glad to avail myself.