The lost Franklin expedition

The lost Franklin expedition

Notebook

Notes about the expedition

Use with caution

stages of the expedition

CONCLUSION

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

King William Island

Beechey Island

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

May 1845: two British ships left England heading toward the Arctic. At that time, the British Empire was very powerful and controlled many parts of the world. Main goal: to discover the Northwest Passage: a sea route through the Arctic that connects Europe to Asia. Finding this route would make trade faster. This discovery would strengthen Britain’s economic and commercial power.

Introduction

lets-go !

. At that time, the world map was almost entirely drawn; the Arctic remained one of the last blank spaces.

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

Supplies: They carried food for about three years, so people thought they were well prepared. Crew: There were 129 men on board: officers, sailors, and young men looking for adventure. Departure: When the ships left England on 19 May 1845, many people came to watch them. Expectation: It was supposed to be a great national success for Britain.

Preparation for the expedition

Leader: Sir John Franklin, 59 years old, experienced Arctic explorer, respected and trusted by the British government. Ships: HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, strong ships designed to resist ice. Technology: Both ships had small steam engines, modern technology for the time.

stages of the expedition

CONCLUSION

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

King William Island

Beechey Island

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

Last seen: July 1845 near Greenland (by whaling ships) Then — the ships disappeared At first — no concern (long Arctic trips = normal silence) Years passed → still no news → growing fear 1848: first rescue missions launched to find Franklin’s crew

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

stages of the expedition

CONCLUSION

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

King William Island

Beechey Island

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

1850: search teams reached Beechey Island Found three graves → 3 sailors died first winter Graves well-kept → showed discipline still present But also meant ships were trapped in ice early

Beechey Island

stages of the expedition

CONCLUSION

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

King William Island

Beechey Island

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

1859: explorers found a written message on King William Island => Only official note from the expedition Said Sir John Franklin died in June 1847 => Ships trapped in ice for a long time

King William Island

At the same time

Inuit testimonies collected during the same period => Spoke of white men — very thin and hungry => Men pulling boats across the ice => One ship crushed by ice, another sank in shallow water Some stories even mentioned cannibalism

April 1848: 105 survivors left ships, walked south Decision = very risky → harsh Arctic conditions (−40 °C) => Men had to pull boats and supplies on ice => Seen as a desperate attempt to survive

At first, British explorers doubted Inuit stories => They trusted written records more than oral traditions 20th century: scientists studied human bones → found cut marks

=> Also found high lead levels in sailors’ bodies Likely from badly sealed food cans → lead poisoning Symptoms: confusion,, mental issues, weakness Crew may have been ill before abandoning the ships

=> Proved cannibalism Inuit stories were true

stages of the expedition

CONCLUSION

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

King William Island

Beechey Island

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

For more than 150 years, the two ships were never found. => Many people wondered what really happened to them. Were they destroyed by the ice? Did they drift away? Did some men return to the ships after leaving them?

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

2014: found HMS Erebus (11 m deep) — well preserved 2016: with Inuit hunter’s help → found HMS Terror (24 m deep) => Almost intact — windows and cabins still visible These discoveries were very important. They showed that Inuit knowledge had been correct for many generations.

New Missions

Early 2000s: new Canadian search missions launched => Used modern tech — sonar, underwater robots Also listened to Inuit oral history

stages of the expedition

CONCLUSION

Entering the Arctic and disappearance

King William Island

Beechey Island

wreck sites of the Erebus and Terror

Departure from England (Greenhithe, near London)

Today, the Franklin Expedition remains a powerful story A tale of ambition, courage, and human limits Shows that technology can’t always defeat nature Reminds us that different forms of knowledge — especially oral traditions — are essential to understand history

CONCLUSION

In 1845, 129 men sailed into the Arctic. None of them came back. But after more than 170 years, the ice finally gave back their ships.

Thank you for your attention.