The Ross Antarctic Expedition (1839-1843) saw HMS
Erebus and HMS Terror, commanded by James Clark Ross, successfully explore and map vast areas of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, discovering the Ross Sea, the Ross Ice Shelf, and the Transantarctic Mountains, while also locating the South Magnetic Pole and naming volcanoes Mount Erebus and Mount Terror. The heavily strengthened ships navigated treacherous ice, establishing significant scientific data in magnetism, meteorology, and biology, paving the way for future polar expeditions and highlighting successful wintering and health strategies.
Key Achievements & Discoveries:
Geography: Circumnavigated Antarctica, mapped parts of the continent, discovered the Ross Sea, and found the Transantarctic Mountains.
Magnetism: Successfully located the South Magnetic Pole, fulfilling a primary scientific goal.
Volcanoes: Discovered and named Mount Erebus and Mount Terror (both active volcanoes) after the ships.
Scientific Data: Conducted extensive magnetic, meteorological, and oceanographic observations, with botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker making significant contributions.
The Ships & Conditions:
Strengthened Vessels: Erebus and Terror, converted bomb vessels, were heavily reinforced and fitted with heating for Antarctic conditions.
Harsh Environment: The ships endured severe ice conditions, surviving violent encounters with icebergs that would have destroyed weaker vessels.
Legacy:
The expedition laid crucial groundwork for future Antarctic exploration, establishing successful methods for health, morale, and survival in polar regions, contrasting with later disasters.
Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition with HMS Erebusand HMS Terror to find the Northwest Passageended in total disaster, with all 129 men dying after the ships became trapped in Arctic ice near King William Island in 1846; the survivors, facing starvation, scurvy, hypothermia, and potentially lead poisoning from canned food, abandoned the ships in 1848 and perished while attempting to march south, becoming one of history's greatest Arctic mysteries until their wrecks were found centuries later.
The Expedition & The Goal
Objective: To navigate the final, uncharted sections of the Northwest Passage, a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Canadian Arctic, and to gather magnetic data.
Departure: The two well-equipped ships, Erebus and Terror, sailed from England in May 1845, last seen entering the Arctic in July.
The Disaster Unfolds
Trapped by Ice: By September 1846, both ships were hopelessly stuck in thick ice in Victoria Strait.
Initial Deaths: Sir John Franklin died in 1847, with about two dozen men perishing before the ships were abandoned.
Abandonment: In April 1848, the surviving 105 men, under Captain Francis Crozier, abandoned the ships and set off south, expecting to reach the mainland.
The Tragic End
No Survivors: None of the men who left the ships ever reached safety; they all succumbed to the harsh Arctic environment.
Causes of Death: Evidence from remains and Inuit oral history points to starvation, scurvy, hypothermia, and potential lead poisoning from poorly soldered food tins.
Mystery & Discovery: The fate of the expedition remained a mystery for over a century until the wrecks of Erebus (2014) and Terror (2016) were discovered, revealing clues to their final days.
Legacy
The Franklin Expedition became the worst tragedy in Arctic exploration history, with the lost men becoming subjects of extensive searches and enduring Inuit legends.