2-378-567 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

Captain McClintock's search for missing Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, 6 May 1859 (1901). The discovery of the Ross Cairn relics by Lieutenant Hobson of the yacht 'Fox'. Franklin (1786-1847) set off on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage in 1845. The expedition failed to return and numerous search and rescue expeditions failed to find Franklin or his crew. In 1854, Scottish explorer Sir John Rae learned from Inuit hunters that Franklin's ships had become icebound, the expedition had attempted to reach safety on foot but had succumbed to the cold and starvation, with some of its members having resorted to cannibalism. The news caused anger and revulsion back in Britain. Franklin's widow refused to accept the story and several further expeditions were sent to the Arctic to learn the 'truth'. One of these, commanded by Captain Francis Leopold McClintock (1819-1907) found the only official record of Franklin's party. In 1997, toxicological analysis of the remains of several members of Franklin's expedition found in graves on King William Island finally vindicated Rae's account. From The Illustrated London News, 1901.