A Narrative of Arctic Discovery, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time
With the Details of the Measures Adopted by Her Majesty's Government for the Relief of the Expedition under Sir John Franklin

This 1850 account of Arctic exploration also offers a useful synthesis of first-hand accounts of the search for Franklin.

John J. Shillinglaw (Author)

9781108073332, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 May 2014

376 pages, 1 b/w illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 2.1 cm, 0.48 kg

This 1850 account of the history of Arctic exploration was dedicated to Lady Franklin, whose energy in spurring on expeditions in search of her husband and his two ships, by then missing for five years, was widely admired. John Shillinglaw (d.1862), a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, was able both to give a historical perspective and to describe the most recent efforts being made to discover Franklin's fate. The narrative begins with the Viking exploration and settlement of Iceland and Greenland, and possible landings in North America. While focusing on British voyages in more recent history, Shillinglaw also includes Russian and Danish activities, as well as the founding of trading firms like the Hudson's Bay Company. But the greater part of the book describes, in considerable detail, voyages from the late eighteenth century up to 1850, and offers a useful synthesis of the first-hand accounts published in this period.

Preface
1. Scandinavian enterprise and its results
2. Emulation excited by the example of Columbus
3. Sebastian Cabot transfers his services to Spain
4. Stephen Burrough sent out by the Muscovy Company
5. New attempt to discover a north-eastern passage
6. Private voyage of discovery at the expense of Alderman Cherie
7. Captain Thomas Button sent out by Henry Prince of Wales
8. Arctic voyage undertaken by Captain Hawkridge
9. Particulars of the voyage of the Maria
10. Renewed attempt to discover a north-east passage
11. Plans of Peter the Great
12. Expedition under the sanction of George III
13. Formation of North-West Company
14. Spirit of enterprise re-kindled
15. Expeditions commanded by Captains Parry and Liddon
16. Franklin's overland expedition
17. Russian Asiatic discoveries
18. Expedition commanded by Captains Parry and Lyon
19. Three expeditions planned
20. Expedition by Captain Parry
21. Anxiety in England respecting the fate of Captain Ross
22. Royal Geographical Society recommend new expedition
23. Expedition of Sir John Franklin and Captain Crozier
24. Three expeditions sent out in search of Sir John Franklin
25. Return of Sir J. Richardson from his search by the Mackenzie
26. Proceedings of Herald and Plover
Conclusion
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]