Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and round the World
Being Personal Narratives of Attempts to Reach the North and South Poles

This two-volume 1884 work describes a doctor and naturalist's polar voyages with William Parry, James Clark Ross and Edward Belcher.

Robert McCormick (Author)

9781108072069, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 May 2014

492 pages, 18 b/w illus. 31 colour illus. 3 maps
24.4 x 17 x 2.5 cm, 0.78 kg

Published in 1884 and illustrated with over 100 of his own drawings and maps, this two-volume work by the doctor and naturalist Robert McCormick (1800–90) provides an account of his voyages in the Arctic with William Parry and in the Antarctic with James Clark Ross, noting also his part in the search for Sir John Franklin. Incorporating a very detailed autobiography, McCormick's work also provides many details relating to natural history and geology. Volume 2 describes his role in the 1852–4 mission to find Franklin in the Arctic, including an open boat voyage up the Wellington Channel. The appendices provide notes on maintaining health in polar climes. This is followed by McCormick's autobiography, tracing his struggles to gain promotion in his naval career. Copies of correspondence relating to the Franklin search reveal his battle to have his ideas accepted by the Admiralty.

Part III. Voyage in Search of Sir John Franklin: 1. Departure from the Nore
2. Disco
3. Upernivik
4. The McLennen nipped
5. Beechey Island
6. I return from the boat expedition
7. Lost in the snow-drift
8. Weather worse than ever
9. Successful ascent of Caswell's Tower
10. On the way home
Narrative of a boat expedition
Appendix
Concluding remarks on the search for Sir John Franklin
Suggestions for the preservation health of polar climes
Correspondence
Part IV. Autobiography: 1. Early life
2. First voyage to the West Indies
3. On the home station
4. Return
5. To the West Indies again
6. A year on half-pay
7. Voyage to South America
8. On half-pay
9. Third voyage to the West Indies
10. Four years on half-pay
11. Fourth walking tour
12. In the Lake District
13. Appointed to the Erebus for the Antarctic expedition
14. On half-pay again
15. Transferred to the Fisguard frigate
16. The Auckland Whaling Company
17. Plan of boat voyage
18. My new plan of search
19. Again on half-pay after my return in 1853
Letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty
Reply
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]