The <i>Fox</i> Expedition in Search of Franklin : A Documentary Trail

Abstract

A portfolio of contemporary documents relating to the Fox expedition in search of Sir John Franklin has recently been found. It contained 14 personal letters written to Captain F.L. M'Clintock by Lady Jane Franklin and her niece, Sophia Cracroft; newspaper clippings of long letters from explorer John Rae and Allen Young, third officer on the Fox; and a drawing. With one exception, these documents are being introduced to scholars for the first time. Newly discovered is Lady Jane Franklin's offer of command of the Fox to Captain F.L. M'Clintock. The documents, now in the author's possession, affirm Lady Franklin's thoroughgoing nature and tenacity in seeking to uncover information on her lost husband and his crew. Some other themes are the trust (well placed, as it turned out) that she accorded Captain M'Clintock and the distinct favour or disfavour with which she viewed various other Arctic personalities of the era. These themes have been commented upon in the past, but are confirmed by the documents. This article summarizes the content of the documents, places them in historical context, and quotes the two most significant letters in their entirety.