The mystery of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the two ships of Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition, essentially boils down to this: what exactly happened to all 129 men and their vessels after they were last seen in July 1845 entering the Canadian Arctic archipelago? While we’ve gathered substantial clues over the years, including the discovery of both shipwrecks, a definitive, step-by-step account of their demise and the fate of every crew member remains elusive, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of one of history’s most enduring polar enigmas.
Setting Sail: The Ambitions of 1845
In May 1845, the British Admiralty launched its most ambitious Arctic expedition yet, aiming to finally chart a navigable Northwest Passage – a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Canadian Arctic. This wasn’t just about discovery; it was about asserting naval dominance and securing potential trade routes. Britain had a long history of polar exploration, but the Passage remained the ultimate prize, a true “last great geographical challenge” for the era.
The Ships: Erebus and Terror
For this monumental undertaking, two bomb vessels, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, were chosen. These weren’t just any ships; they were purpose-built for resilience in harsh conditions, having already proven their mettle in Antarctic expeditions under Sir James Clark Ross. They were reinforced with extra-thick hulls and internal strapping, designed to withstand ice pressure. Critically, for the first time on a major Arctic voyage, they were fitted with steam engines and screw propellers, salvaged from railway locomotives. These engines, though auxiliary, were a significant technological leap, offering independence from wind in tricky ice-bound waters. Each ship also carried an impressive 12-day supply of coal for its engine, alongside enough provisions for three years for the entire complement of 129 officers and men.
The Leader: Sir John Franklin
Leading the expedition was Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin, a seasoned Arctic explorer with a distinguished, if somewhat mixed, record. He had participated in several earlier expeditions, including those led by David Buchan and William Edward Parry, and had undertaken arduous overland journeys in the Canadian Arctic. While admired for his resilience and experience, some contemporary voices raised concerns about his age (59 at the time) and his leadership style, which was sometimes perceived as indecisive. Nevertheless, his reputation and the backing of the Admiralty made him the obvious choice for such a high-profile command. The expedition was meticulously planned, equipped with the latest scientific instruments, substantial libraries, and enough supplies to ensure, in theory, their self-sufficiency for years.
Initial Hopes and Lingering Silence
The expedition departed Greenhithe, England, on May 19, 1845, with a grand send-off and high expectations. After replenishing supplies in the Orkney Islands, they sailed for the Arctic.
Last Confirmed Sightings
The last definitive sightings of Erebus and Terror occurred in late July 1845. Two whaling ships, the Prince of Wales and the Enterprise, encountered Franklin’s vessels in Baffin Bay, near the entrance to Lancaster Sound, which was considered the gateway to the Northwest Passage. The whalers reported that the expedition appeared well-equipped and in good spirits, waiting for a favourable opportunity to enter the ice. Captain Dannett of the Prince of Wales even went aboard Erebus and conversed with Franklin. After this point, the ships, and all 129 souls aboard, vanished into the vastness of the Arctic.
The Slow Realisation of Trouble
Initially, there was little cause for alarm. A three-year absence was within the expected timeframe for a successful expedition. However, as 1848 approached and passed without any word, unease began to grow in Britain. The Admiralty, pressured by Franklin’s wife, Lady Jane Franklin – a formidable and tireless advocate – eventually launched a series of search expeditions. Over the next decade, more than 30 relief expeditions, both naval and private, were dispatched, reflecting the deep national concern and the public’s fascination with the missing explorers. These early searches, while unsuccessful in finding the main expedition, significantly contributed to the mapping of the Canadian Arctic.
Echoes from the Ice: Early Discoveries
While the ships remained elusive for over a century and a half, the early search efforts did uncover grim clues, painting a fragmented picture of the expedition’s fate.
Beechey Island Graves
In 1850, an Anglo-Irish search expedition found the first tangible evidence of Franklin’s men. On Beechey Island, located at the mouth of the Wellington Channel, they discovered three graves belonging to crew members who had died in January and April 1846: John Torrington, John Hartnell, and William Braine. The graves were remarkably well-preserved due to the permafrost. The discovery indicated that the expedition had overwintered successfully in 1845-46 and that at least some members had succumbed to illness relatively early in the voyage. Critically, there was no indication of widespread disaster at this stage, merely the expected hardships of an Arctic winter. The graves gave the searchers a starting point, but the absence of further messages or cairns from Franklin himself was perplexing.
The Crozier and Fitzjames Record
The most pivotal early discovery came in 1859, from an expedition funded by Lady Jane Franklin and led by Francis Leopold McClintock. On King William Island, his men found a cairn containing a crucial document. It was a pre-printed Admiralty form, left in a tin container. The first message, dated May 28, 1847, stated that the expedition had successfully overwintered at Beechey Island in 1845-46, sailed south to King William Island, and was “all well.” It also mentioned that Franklin had claimed the area for Great Britain.
However, a second, hastily scrawled message, written around the margins of the first, provided the truly chilling details. Dated April 25, 1848, it stated that the ships, Erebus and Terror, had been beset in the ice off King William Island since September 12, 1846. It announced the death of Sir John Franklin on June 11, 1847, and recorded that 24 men had perished up to that point. The most devastating revelation was that the remaining 105 survivors, under the command of Captain Francis Crozier (of Terror), had abandoned the ships on April 22, 1848, and were attempting an overland march south towards the Back River, a known fur-trading route. This document was the first concrete evidence of the expedition’s catastrophic end and provided a timeline for the final stages of the disaster.
Further Traces and Inuit Accounts
McClintock’s expedition and subsequent searches continued to uncover more human remains and artefacts along the presumed route of the retreating party on King William Island. These included personal effects, remnants of equipment, and more skeletal remains, often showing signs of scurvy and exposure. Some bone fragments displayed cut marks, which, combined with later scientific analysis, strongly suggested instances of cannibalism as the men became desperate.
Crucially, Inuit accounts proved invaluable. For decades, the local Netsilik Inuit had spoken of encountering starving “white men” on King William Island, and finding their abandoned ships and camps. Their stories, often initially dismissed or misinterpreted by European searchers, provided a consistent narrative of a long, desperate struggle for survival, of men slowly dying as they attempted to trek south. These accounts, though oral and passed down through generations, described events and locations that later archaeological finds corroborated, underscoring the vital role of indigenous knowledge in understanding the expedition’s fate.
Unravelling the Demise: Theories and Evidence
With the discovery of the ‘Victory Point Note’ and subsequent finds, the focus shifted from ‘where are they?’ to ‘what actually happened?’ The evidence pointed to a prolonged struggle against the elements and dwindling supplies.
Lead Poisoning
One of the most compelling theories, particularly for the earlier deaths, centred on lead poisoning. Examinations of the remains from Beechey Island, notably John Torrington’s, revealed extremely high levels of lead in their bones and soft tissues. This led researchers to hypothesise that the expedition’s food, particularly tinned provisions, might have been contaminated. The soldering techniques used for the tins in the 1840s were rudimentary, often involving thick lead seams, and the internal surfaces could have been poorly sealed, allowing lead to leach into the food.
Symptoms of lead poisoning – including neurological damage, irritability, psychosis, and impaired judgement – could have significantly debilitated the crew, making rational decision-making and efficient work in the harsh Arctic environment incredibly difficult. It might explain why some men succumbed relatively early and why the later stages of the expedition appeared so disorganised and ultimately catastrophic. While not the sole cause of death, lead poisoning is widely accepted as a major contributing factor that severely weakened the men both physically and mentally.
Scurvy and Starvation
While lead poisoning weakened them, scurvy and outright starvation were undoubtedly the ultimate killers for most of the crew. Scurvy, caused by a lack of Vitamin C, was a common scourge on long sea voyages of the era. Despite carrying preserved lemons and limes, fresh food sources were scarce, and the effectiveness of their anti-scurvy provisions over three years in extreme cold is questionable. Scurvy leads to severe weakness, joint pain, gum disease, and eventual death.
The record of abandonment indicated that the men were already in a desperate state by April 1848. Trekking across frozen King William Island with limited supplies, in an already weakened state, would have been an unimaginable ordeal. The numerous skeletal remains found along the retreat route, often scattered, bore testament to a gradual, individual collapse. Inuit accounts consistently described the men as emaciated and staggering, desperately seeking food. The cut marks on bones confirmed extreme measures to survive, indicating cannibalism among the dying men, a final, horrifying testament to their desperation.
Hypothermia and Exposure
The unforgiving Arctic environment itself was a constant threat. Hypothermia, frostbite, and general exposure to the brutal cold would have taken a heavy toll, especially on men already suffering from lead poisoning, scurvy, and starvation. A weakened body struggles to maintain core temperature, and even relatively mild cold can be deadly to those in a compromised state. The combination of these factors created a lethal cascade, each contributing to the rapid deterioration and eventual demise of the expedition members.
The Search Concludes: Discovering the Wrecks
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Expedition Leader | Sir John Franklin |
| Ships Involved | HMS Erebus and HMS Terror |
| Year of Departure | 1845 |
| Objective | Navigate and chart the Northwest Passage |
| Crew Size | 129 men |
| Last Known Location | Victoria Strait, Arctic Archipelago |
| Year Ships Were Lost | 1846-1848 |
| Year HMS Erebus Found | 2014 |
| Year HMS Terror Found | 2016 |
| Cause of Expedition Failure | Likely a combination of ice entrapment, starvation, disease, and lead poisoning |
| Significance | One of the greatest maritime mysteries and a key event in Arctic exploration history |
For 160 years after the last sightings, the ships themselves remained a phantom, inspiring countless expeditions and fuelling the mystery. Then, through a combination of cutting-edge technology and persistent effort, the unthinkable happened.
Finding HMS Erebus (2014)
After decades of systematic searches and utilising advanced sonar technology, Parks Canada, in collaboration with Inuit guardians and researchers, achieved a monumental breakthrough. On September 7, 2014, a research team located the wreck of HMS Erebus in Wilmot and Crampton Bay, off King William Island. The discovery was met with international acclaim. The ship was found in relatively shallow water, remarkably well-preserved due to the cold, dark Arctic waters and limited oxygen. Its discovery was a testament to the dedication of the search teams, particularly the invaluable contribution of Inuit oral history, which guided search efforts to the correct general area. The wreck’s condition immediately offered a wealth of new archaeological insights.
Finding HMS Terror (2016)
Just two years later, on September 3, 2016, the second ship, HMS Terror, was discovered by a team from the Arctic Research Foundation, again with crucial input from an Inuit oral history account. Terror was found approximately 92 km north of Erebus, in Terror Bay, off the southwest coast of King William Island. It lay in deeper water than Erebus, about 24 metres deep, and was in an even more astonishing state of preservation. The mast was still standing, windows were intact, and much of the ship’s internal structure and contents appeared untouched, almost as if frozen in time. The bridge, the bell, and even the captain’s cabin were identified. This second discovery completed a major chapter in the Franklin saga, providing physical evidence of both vessels’ final resting places.
The Ships Today: Ongoing Archaeology and Future Insights
The discovery of Erebus and Terror wasn’t the end of the story; it was a new beginning for archaeological research. These wrecks represent an unparalleled time capsule of 19th-century polar exploration.
Unveiling Secrets from the Deep
Since their discovery, extensive archaeological work has been undertaken on both wrecks, primarily by Parks Canada’s Underwater Archaeology Team. Divers have systematically explored the ships, carefully documenting and recovering thousands of artefacts. These range from crockery and clothing to scientific instruments, weaponry, and personal effects of the crew. The level of preservation is extraordinary, with some organic materials, like textiles and paper, surviving. Each recovered item offers a tangible link to the men and their lives aboard the expedition. For example, the discovery of a daguerreotype frame aboard Erebus hints at the personal mementoes the crew carried, while recovered navigational tools shed light on their efforts to plot a course.
The internal layout and state of the ships also provide crucial clues. The fact that Terror was found in such pristine condition, with objects seemingly left in place, suggests that its abandonment was possibly more orderly, or that it became trapped and sank relatively quickly, leaving little time for salvage or extensive disarray. Erebus, while also well-preserved, shows signs of more internal disturbance.
Protecting a Shared Heritage
The wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror are now designated National Historic Sites of Canada, co-managed by Parks Canada and the Inuit Heritage Trust. This co-management approach respects the historical significance of the sites to both Canadian and Inuit history, acknowledging the long-standing Inuit connection to these lands and waters. The sites are carefully protected, with strict regulations governing access to preserve their archaeological integrity.
Future work will continue to focus on detailed mapping, documentation, and selective recovery of artefacts, ensuring that this invaluable historical resource is managed responsibly. The hope is that further exploration will uncover the logbooks, journals, or other written records that could finally provide a day-by-day account of the expedition’s final, desperate years, potentially filling in the remaining blanks of this captivating Arctic mystery. While the overall narrative of their demise is now largely understood, the detailed human story, the individual experiences of terror, hope, and despair, are still waiting to be fully revealed from the depths of the Arctic.
FAQs
What was the Franklin Expedition?
The Franklin Expedition was a British voyage of exploration that took place between 1845 and 1848, aimed at navigating the Northwest Passage in the Arctic. Led by Sir John Franklin, the expedition consisted of two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, and aimed to chart the Arctic regions of Canada.
What happened to HMS Erebus and HMS Terror?
Both HMS Erebus and HMS Terror became icebound in the Canadian Arctic, and the entire crew of 129 men was lost. The ships were not seen again until their wrecks were discovered in 2014 and 2016, respectively, in the waters of the Northwest Passage.
What were the main theories regarding the fate of the crew?
Several theories have emerged regarding the fate of the Franklin Expedition crew, including starvation, lead poisoning from canned food, and scurvy. Some evidence suggests that the crew may have attempted to trek overland in search of rescue, leading to further hardships and fatalities.
How were the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror discovered?
The wreck of HMS Erebus was discovered in 2014 by the Arctic Research Foundation, while HMS Terror was located in 2016 by Parks Canada. Both discoveries were made using advanced underwater technology, including remotely operated vehicles and sonar mapping.
What is the significance of the Franklin Expedition today?
The Franklin Expedition remains significant as it highlights the challenges of Arctic exploration and the mysteries surrounding human endurance in extreme conditions. It has also sparked interest in Arctic archaeology and the preservation of historical sites in the region.
