English Ships found in Arctic

1. Voyages of the Terror and Erebus:
   • In 1845, Sir John Franklin, a seasoned British explorer, embarked on his third Arctic expedition with two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, in search of the elusive Northwest Passage—a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Archipelago. Franklin’s expedition was well-equipped and consisted of 128 officers and crew.
2. Fate of the Ships:
   • Tragically, both ships became trapped in the ice off King William Island in the Canadian Arctic in September 1846. Attempts to free them and continue the voyage were futile.
   • The situation became dire as the ice held the ships captive for two years. Franklin and 23 others died during this time, and the surviving crew members abandoned the ships in 1848.
   • The exact cause of death for Franklin and his men remains a subject of debate, but it is believed to be a combination of lead poisoning from the canned food, scurvy, and harsh Arctic conditions.
   • The remaining crew attempted to make their way south on foot but perished along the way. The fate of the Franklin expedition became a mystery, and numerous search parties were launched in the ensuing years to discover their fate and the location of the ships.
3. Modern Search Efforts:
   • Over the years, numerous expeditions and searches were conducted to find the lost ships and unravel the mystery. Many explorers, including John Rae, Francis McClintock, and Charles Francis Hall, played significant roles in uncovering clues about the expedition’s fate.
   • The breakthrough came in 2014 when a Canadian research team led by Parks Canada discovered the wreck of HMS Erebus in the Queen Maud Gulf. Two years later, in 2016, they found HMS Terror in Nunavut’s Terror Bay.
   • The discovery of the ships and their well-preserved state provided valuable insights into the expedition’s final moments and allowed historians to piece together the story of their ill-fated voyage.
   • These findings have not only shed light on Franklin’s expedition but have also contributed to our understanding of the challenges faced by Arctic explorers during the 19th century.

The voyages of the Terror and Erebus remain a testament to the tenacity and sacrifice of Arctic explorers in their quest to navigate the Northwest Passage. The discovery of the wrecks in modern times has provided closure to one of the great mysteries of exploration and offered new perspectives on the challenges faced by early Arctic adventurers.

2024 Update

The discovery of the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, ships from Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 expedition, is one of the most significant achievements in modern Canadian maritime archaeology. This achievement resulted from the collaborative efforts of Parks Canada, the Canadian government, Inuit communities, and other stakeholders. The search for these two vessels took place over decades, reflecting a blend of cutting-edge technology and indigenous knowledge passed down over generations.

Franklin’s Lost Expedition: A Brief Overview

In 1845, Sir John Franklin led an expedition of 129 men aboard HMS Terror and HMS Erebus to traverse the last unnavigated section of the Northwest Passage. Both ships were equipped with the best technology of the time, such as steam engines and iron plating to handle the ice. However, after leaving England, the expedition vanished in the Arctic ice, sparking one of the greatest mysteries of polar exploration.

For years, various rescue missions sought to locate Franklin and his men, but it wasn’t until 1859 that the first major clue was found: a message on King William Island detailing that Franklin had died in 1847 and the remaining crew had abandoned their ice-bound ships in 1848.

Decades of Searching

Despite numerous searches in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the exact locations of the Terror and Erebus remained unknown. The mystery persisted for over 160 years, prompting expeditions by explorers and researchers throughout the 20th century. The enduring fascination with the Franklin expedition became part of Canada’s Arctic identity, leading the Canadian government and Parks Canada to intensify efforts to locate the ships in the 21st century.

Inuit Contributions

Crucial to the eventual discovery was the role of Inuit oral histories. Since the disappearance of Franklin’s ships, Inuit communities had passed down stories of strange wooden vessels trapped in the ice and men dying in the harsh Arctic conditions. Elders from these communities recounted these stories to European explorers in the 19th century, including accounts of a ship located in a bay off King William Island.

Parks Canada recognized the importance of collaborating with Inuit communities, particularly through partnerships with the Inuit Heritage Trust and local hunters and trappers. This relationship allowed search teams to incorporate Inuit knowledge into their scientific methods, a collaboration which greatly enhanced the search’s success.

The Modern Search

In 2008, Canada launched a renewed search for Franklin’s ships, driven in part by the political desire to assert Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. Parks Canada played a leading role in the effort, deploying teams of archaeologists, historians, and scientists. The search involved extensive surveys of the Arctic seafloor using advanced sonar and underwater technology.

In 2014, one of the major breakthroughs occurred: the wreck of HMS Erebus was discovered in Queen Maud Gulf, off the coast of King William Island, in relatively shallow waters. This discovery was made possible through a combination of sonar technology and insights from Inuit stories about where the ship was last seen.

Then, in 2016, HMS Terror was found, remarkably well-preserved, in Terror Bay, much farther south than expected. The ship was almost intact, resting at the bottom of the bay. The cold, Arctic waters had protected the wooden structure from deterioration, and the discovery was hailed as a major victory in maritime archaeology.

Parks Canada’s Role

Parks Canada led the underwater archaeological expeditions that located and mapped both ships. The agency’s archaeologists dove into icy Arctic waters to survey the wrecks and begin documenting their condition. They found Erebus had collapsed in some areas, but many artifacts remained, including dishes, tools, and sections of the ship’s rigging. In contrast, Terror was almost perfectly preserved, with portholes still intact and potential access to interior sections for future exploration.

Parks Canada’s efforts were supported by a range of stakeholders, including the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, and private partners like the Arctic Research Foundation. The discoveries also prompted further exploration of the surrounding areas, including the potential for learning more about the fates of Franklin’s men who abandoned the ships.

Indigenous Collaboration and Recognition

A key aspect of the search and subsequent discoveries was the Canadian government’s recognition of Inuit knowledge as an essential component of the exploration. Indigenous oral histories proved crucial in directing the search to the correct locations. In recognition of this, the Franklin sites, including the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, are now co-managed by Parks Canada and Inuit communities under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

This partnership not only acknowledges the historical importance of Inuit knowledge but also helps preserve and protect the wreck sites. Both ships are considered a part of Canada’s national heritage, and their discovery has reinforced the importance of protecting archaeological sites in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.

Today

The discovery of HMS Terror and HMS Erebus represents a triumph of both modern science and indigenous wisdom. Parks Canada’s leadership, combined with cutting-edge technology and the invaluable contributions of Inuit knowledge, solved one of the most enduring mysteries in Arctic exploration. Today, the wrecks of these two ships stand as a testament to the tragic bravery of the Franklin expedition, as well as to the enduring resilience and expertise of the Arctic’s Indigenous peoples.