80 ARCTIC PROFILES

Edward Augustus Inglefield (1 820- 1894)

Inglefield wasone of the large number of Royal Naval happier appointments. The expedition differed from the other officers whose careers were advanced by participation in the expeditions inwhich she was active in that Inglefield was, Franklin search. This was a highly satisfactory time for such himself, to “provide a crew, and whatother fitments the vessel menas it provided ample opportunity for employment in a needed” for the voyage, on return from which the ship was to rigorous environment andin a cause inwhich there was a become his own property. gratifyingly high level of public interest. The North was cer- The voyage, which lasted from10 July to 4 November 1852, tainly much healthier than theother contemporary area in which was uneventful. Inglefield hadchosen a good, competent crew, naval initiative could bedisplayed -off theAfrican coast in the and in thisrespect an interesting comparison isafforded with the suppression of the slave trade. In the Franklinsearch Inglefield Prince Albert expedition of 1850 in which the commander, did not, however, achieve the highest distinction. He visited the C .C . Forsyth, had no hand inpersonnel selection and hadgreat Arctic three times, but his second and thirdvoyages were simply difficulties with his men. The plan was to search Jones Sound means of communication with Sir Edward Belcher’s1852-1854 and the west coastof Baffin Bayfor traces of Franklin. The west expedition. His first voyage, on the other hand, did have one coast of Greenland was examined on the outward voyage, and solid achievement that greatly redounded to Inglefield’s credit, new discoveries of geographical features were made. Smith and this is sufficient reason for devoting attention to him. Sound was penetrated to a latitude of 78”28’21”N, “therefore Born into a naval family and educated at the Royal Naval placing the Isabel about 140 miles further than had beenreached College in Portsmouth, he entered the service in 1832 and by any previous navigator, of whom we have any records.” immediately saw action in the eastern Mediterranean in opera- Inglefield was determinedto land inorder to erect a notice “that tions off the Lebanese coast, where the situation seems to have the British Flag had been first carried into this unknown sea,” been as confused asit is today. Inglefield then served in H.M.S. and, indeed, he believed thathe had entered the open polar basin Samarang, engaged in surveying various coasts of the Pacific so muchsought by previous mariners. Worseningweather Ocean, and he was on board that vessel when she sank. After prevented him from landing, and following a narrow escape further service in Latin American waters, he was promoted from the lee pack, he headed southward. Jones Sound was commander on 18 November 1845. investigated as far as 84’1O’W, and then a visit was made to When the Franklin search got under way, Inglefield, frus- Beechey Island inLancaster Sound, where communication was trated in his efforts to obtain a naval appointment, volunteered established with H.M.S. North Star, the depot ship of Belcher’s his services to Lady Franklin. He was, in 1852, appointed to the expedition. Inglefield “pressed upon Captain Pullenthe accep- command of Isabel, a small vessel of 149 tons that had an tance of all my surplus stores and provisions,” but this offer was auxiliary steam engine. Inglefield was one of Lady Franklin’s declined as Pullen was “prohibited by his commanding officer ARCTIC PROFILES 81

from in anyway to interfere with a private vessel. ” Despite this, Inglefield made various presentsto the officers’ mess, including “preserved beef and ox cheek,” and after exchanging letters, Isabel set sail. The eastern coast of Baffin Island was then examined, before the approach of winter forced the expedition home. Inglefield’s book A Summer Search for Sir John Franklin; with a Peep into the Polar Basin, published in 1853, is one of the moreinteresting of the genre. Inglefield’s account itself only covers 128 pages. The remainder of the short volume comprises observations on the natural history of the area visited, notably 48 turgid pages on the physical geographyby Dr. P.C. Suther- land, surgeon to the expedition. The portion by Inglefield is clearly written and provides a matter-of-fact account of the expedition’s activities. He felt, however, the need to instruct as well as toinform his readers, especially aboutsuch arcane matters as the details of Isabel’s steam machinery. One wonders quite how much, if anything, was made of such passages in Victoriandrawing rooms. The illustrations, which were by Inglefield, are more competently executed than are those of some contemporary works. Inglefield waswell received at home and was awarded honoursand medals. In the following year, the Admiralty appointed him to command a voyage by H.M.S. Phoenix and Breadalbane to take supplies to Belcher’s expedition. Also participating in the voyage wasJoseph René Bellot, the French officer who had obtainedfame during the Prince Albertexpedi- tion of 185 1-1852. From the tone of the instructions issued to less peremptory: “You are now so well acquainted with the Inglefield, one getsthe impression that the Admiralty was tiring navigation of those seas, and have so successfully performed of the Franklin search, particularly of its cost. Inglefield was your previous service, that we do not consider it necessary to toldin no uncertainterms that the voyagehad a transport bind you with anyspecific directions. ” Upon arrival at Beechey function only. His “most essential duty” was to clear the stores, Island, Inglefield discovered that allfour of Belcher’s ships and after which hewas, “without amoment’s delay,” to return. His Investigator had been abandoned and that their crews were “most especial duty” was to carry out these orders, and “it is assembled on board North Star, the only remaining vessel. Most our most positive direction that you are on no account what- of the men were transported home in Inglefield’s ships. ever” to run the risk of the ships’ being detained. The vessels This ended Inglefield’s arctic service. He participated in the arrived at Beechey Island on8 August 1853, and Inglefield was Crimean War and was present at thefall of Sebastapol and the immediately madeaware of the difficult situation on the Belcher blockade of Odessa. His later career was one of great success. expedition arising from the character of its commander. He He held such varied appointments as naval attaché, Washing- received orders from Belcher, his superior officer, that directly ton, and as admiral superintendent of the Malta dockyard. One contradicted those he had had from the Admiralty. After con- of his main interests was the mechanical development of the sulting Captain Pullen of North Star, he prudently decided to Navy. He invented a new anchor and hydraulic steering appara- complywith the latter. Two unfortunate incidents occurred tus and published severaltechnical works. He retired in March during this voyage: Breadalbane was lost offCape Riley on 21 1885 in enjoymentof a flag officer’s good service pension and August, and Bellot, while carrying despatches up Wellington died in September 1894. Channel, was drowned. Inglefield returned to England withthe news that the crew of H.M.S. Investigator, whichhad attempted to penetrate the FURTHER READINGS Canadian archipelago fromthe west, was safe andthat the Northwest Passage hadfinally been discovered. He transported INGLEFIELD, EDWARDAUGUSTUS. 1853. A Summer Searchfor Sir John homeSamuel Gurney Cresswell, of the Investigator, and Franklin; with a Peep into the Polar Basin. London: Thomas Hanison. Cresswell thus became the first person to travel through the Passage from end to end. Ian R. Stone Despite the loss of Breadalbane, Inglefield received the The Registry plaudits of the Admiralty and wasappointed to conduct a similar University of Kent at Canterbury voyage the following year.This time hisinstructions were much England