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After the Lost Franklin Expedition: Lady Franklin and John Rae
The fate of the lost Franklin Expedition of 1847 is an enigma that has tantalized generations of historians, archaeologists and adventurers. The expedition was lost without a trace and all 129 men died in what is arguably the worst disaster in Britain's history of polar exploration.
In the aftermath of the crew's disappearance, Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John's widow, maintained a crusade to secure her husband's reputation, imperiled alongside him and his crew in the frozen wastes of the Arctic. Lady Franklin was an uncommon woman for her age, a socially and politically astute figure who ravaged anyone who she viewed as a threat to her husband's legacy.
Meanwhile John Rae, an explorer and employee of the Hudson Bay Company, recovered deeply disturbing information from the Expedition. His shocking conclusions embroiled him in a bitter dispute with Lady Franklin which led to the ruin of his reputation and career. Against the background of Victorian society and the rise of the explorer celebrity, we learn of Lady Franklin's formidable grit to honor her husband's legacy; of John Rae being discredited and his eventual ruin, despite later being proven right. It is a fascinating assessment of the aftermath of the Franklin Expedition and its legacy.
In the aftermath of the crew's disappearance, Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John's widow, maintained a crusade to secure her husband's reputation, imperiled alongside him and his crew in the frozen wastes of the Arctic. Lady Franklin was an uncommon woman for her age, a socially and politically astute figure who ravaged anyone who she viewed as a threat to her husband's legacy.
Meanwhile John Rae, an explorer and employee of the Hudson Bay Company, recovered deeply disturbing information from the Expedition. His shocking conclusions embroiled him in a bitter dispute with Lady Franklin which led to the ruin of his reputation and career. Against the background of Victorian society and the rise of the explorer celebrity, we learn of Lady Franklin's formidable grit to honor her husband's legacy; of John Rae being discredited and his eventual ruin, despite later being proven right. It is a fascinating assessment of the aftermath of the Franklin Expedition and its legacy.
- GenresHistory
280 pages, Hardcover
Published August 29, 2019
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March 12, 2025
This book will be interesting to those with no specific knowledge of arctic history. The prose style makes for an easy and engaging read throughout without getting into too much detail of individual expeditions. It is a good precis of key moments in the Franklin search. However, there are far too many typographical and factual errors to fully commend it. There are no footnotes or references within the narrative and the bibliography, entitled ‘Further Reading’ contains more errors of omission and accuracy.
1. p172 refers to Beechey Island as “on the southeast shore of Devon Island” whereas it is actually on the south west shore.
2. p181 has mention of “Union and Dolphin Strait” but this is formally known as ‘Dolphin and Union Strait’ and correctly titled on pp149 and 161. Likewise, on p135 ‘Fury and Hecla Strait’ is referred to incorrectly as “Hecla and Fury Strait”.
3. p9-10 states the ‘Prince of Wales’ to be “ten miles off the coast of Foulness…. through the grey waters of the English Channel”. Foulness is part of the north side of the outer Thames Estuary, not the English Channel and ‘Prince of Wales’ did not sail through it.
4. p108 says that Franklin would “sail out of the Beaufort Sea…in 1848” but by p110, it says he would “emerge in the Beaumont Sea in…1848”. No such Sea exists.
5. On p57, the Franklin’s wedding is reported to be in “the rural parish of Stanhope..” In reality, it took place in the parish of Great Stanmore.
6. There are many references in the book to Sir Edward Belcher but confusingly, in several places (including the Index) he is referred to as “Sir James Belcher”. For example, on p210, at the start of a chapter, he is “Sir James..” and two paragraphs later on the same page, he is back to “Sir Edward..”
7. Similarly, John Hepburn has several references but on p14 he is called “Hepburne”. Also, on p53, Samuel Hearne is referred to as ‘Hearn’.
8. ‘William Scoresby’ is cited once (p19) but it is not clarified as to whether this is the Senior or Junior). With prior knowledge the reader can establish that the reference is to Scoresby Junior. The previous paragraph mentions Sir Joseph Banks and the year 1817. Scoresby we learn sent a letter to Banks near this time having recently “…returned from a voyage to the waters of western Greenland, known to cartographers as Baffin Bay..” Scoresby’s principal whaling voyages (1811-20) were to Svalbard and east Greenland only, not to west Greenland or Baffin Bay. Scoresby relied on his knowledge of that area from reports of other whalers, such as Captain George Palmer: “While Scoresby hunted entirely in waters between Greenland and Svalbard, Palmer hunted entirely west of Greenland” (J. of the Hakluyt Society, April 2013).
A fair amount of creative imagination is employed throughout the book to fill gaps in the continuity of the narrative but there is often nothing to uphold the author’s opinion. Some of the speculation might possibly have elements of truth but where there is either lack of supporting evidence provided or to the contrary, the author should either quote sources or be held to account. On p13-14, Franklin’s first expedition crew make their anchorage off Great Yarmouth. The following morning, we are told: “Waking up in some bordello later that morning (Dr John) Richardson rushed to the quayside..”
This pejorative statement without substantiation throws doubt on Richardson’s character but for example, A L Rice when reviewing R E Johnson’s 1976 biography of Richardson says that he "uncovered nothing in the public or private life of Sir John Richardson that would diminish his mental, moral, religious, or physical stature".
No less contentious, the author refers in several places to the “Orkneys”. Local accepted usage tends to favour either ‘Orkney’ or the ‘Orkney Islands’. Also, the noun/proper noun ‘Peninsula’ appears too frequently as the adjective “Peninsular” (For example, p133: “Melville Peninsular” and p123: “Boothia Peninsular” plus the correct Boothia Peninsula both in the same paragraph).
In ‘Further Readings’, one reference has been split into two parts: “Berton, Pierre. The Arctic Grail: The Quest for the North West Passage and the North” appears on p266 and the rest of it appears on p267: “Pole 1818-1909. (Penguin Books, New York) 1988”.
One reference is incorrect and reads: “King, Doctor Richard. Narrative of a Journey Down Great Fish River in Search of Sir John Ross.” No such book exists. Dr King actually wrote: “Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in 1833, 1834, and 1835, under the command of Capt. Back” (1836).
This and two other of the twenty three references have no date.
The multiple errors in detail, manifold inaccuracies, inconsistencies and sloppiness of proof-reading both detract and distract heavily from the narrative of this captivating book. Taken individually, many of these points could perhaps have been overlooked but the cumulative effect of so many made this an ultimately tedious read. I cannot therefore commend it until they are rectified. I did expect better from such an esteemed publisher.
1. p172 refers to Beechey Island as “on the southeast shore of Devon Island” whereas it is actually on the south west shore.
2. p181 has mention of “Union and Dolphin Strait” but this is formally known as ‘Dolphin and Union Strait’ and correctly titled on pp149 and 161. Likewise, on p135 ‘Fury and Hecla Strait’ is referred to incorrectly as “Hecla and Fury Strait”.
3. p9-10 states the ‘Prince of Wales’ to be “ten miles off the coast of Foulness…. through the grey waters of the English Channel”. Foulness is part of the north side of the outer Thames Estuary, not the English Channel and ‘Prince of Wales’ did not sail through it.
4. p108 says that Franklin would “sail out of the Beaufort Sea…in 1848” but by p110, it says he would “emerge in the Beaumont Sea in…1848”. No such Sea exists.
5. On p57, the Franklin’s wedding is reported to be in “the rural parish of Stanhope..” In reality, it took place in the parish of Great Stanmore.
6. There are many references in the book to Sir Edward Belcher but confusingly, in several places (including the Index) he is referred to as “Sir James Belcher”. For example, on p210, at the start of a chapter, he is “Sir James..” and two paragraphs later on the same page, he is back to “Sir Edward..”
7. Similarly, John Hepburn has several references but on p14 he is called “Hepburne”. Also, on p53, Samuel Hearne is referred to as ‘Hearn’.
8. ‘William Scoresby’ is cited once (p19) but it is not clarified as to whether this is the Senior or Junior). With prior knowledge the reader can establish that the reference is to Scoresby Junior. The previous paragraph mentions Sir Joseph Banks and the year 1817. Scoresby we learn sent a letter to Banks near this time having recently “…returned from a voyage to the waters of western Greenland, known to cartographers as Baffin Bay..” Scoresby’s principal whaling voyages (1811-20) were to Svalbard and east Greenland only, not to west Greenland or Baffin Bay. Scoresby relied on his knowledge of that area from reports of other whalers, such as Captain George Palmer: “While Scoresby hunted entirely in waters between Greenland and Svalbard, Palmer hunted entirely west of Greenland” (J. of the Hakluyt Society, April 2013).
A fair amount of creative imagination is employed throughout the book to fill gaps in the continuity of the narrative but there is often nothing to uphold the author’s opinion. Some of the speculation might possibly have elements of truth but where there is either lack of supporting evidence provided or to the contrary, the author should either quote sources or be held to account. On p13-14, Franklin’s first expedition crew make their anchorage off Great Yarmouth. The following morning, we are told: “Waking up in some bordello later that morning (Dr John) Richardson rushed to the quayside..”
This pejorative statement without substantiation throws doubt on Richardson’s character but for example, A L Rice when reviewing R E Johnson’s 1976 biography of Richardson says that he "uncovered nothing in the public or private life of Sir John Richardson that would diminish his mental, moral, religious, or physical stature".
No less contentious, the author refers in several places to the “Orkneys”. Local accepted usage tends to favour either ‘Orkney’ or the ‘Orkney Islands’. Also, the noun/proper noun ‘Peninsula’ appears too frequently as the adjective “Peninsular” (For example, p133: “Melville Peninsular” and p123: “Boothia Peninsular” plus the correct Boothia Peninsula both in the same paragraph).
In ‘Further Readings’, one reference has been split into two parts: “Berton, Pierre. The Arctic Grail: The Quest for the North West Passage and the North” appears on p266 and the rest of it appears on p267: “Pole 1818-1909. (Penguin Books, New York) 1988”.
One reference is incorrect and reads: “King, Doctor Richard. Narrative of a Journey Down Great Fish River in Search of Sir John Ross.” No such book exists. Dr King actually wrote: “Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in 1833, 1834, and 1835, under the command of Capt. Back” (1836).
This and two other of the twenty three references have no date.
The multiple errors in detail, manifold inaccuracies, inconsistencies and sloppiness of proof-reading both detract and distract heavily from the narrative of this captivating book. Taken individually, many of these points could perhaps have been overlooked but the cumulative effect of so many made this an ultimately tedious read. I cannot therefore commend it until they are rectified. I did expect better from such an esteemed publisher.
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