The Disappearance of the Franklin Expedition
In the annals of exploration, few mysteries have captivated the world as much as the disappearance of the Franklin Expedition. It’s a tale of ambition, endurance, and tragedy set against the unforgiving wilderness of the Arctic, one that remains partially unsolved to this day.
In 1845, Sir John Franklin, a seasoned British naval officer and Arctic explorer, set out on a bold mission to chart and navigate the last unnavigated section of the Northwest Passage, a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic archipelago of Canada. At the time, finding a navigable passage was the Holy Grail of exploration, promising faster trade routes and national prestige.
Franklin commanded two state-of-the-art ships for the time: HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, both reinforced for Arctic ice and equipped with advanced technology, including steam engines and modern provisions. The expedition left England with 129 officers and men, full of optimism and determination.
They were never seen alive again.
The Voyage Begins
The Erebus and Terror departed from Greenhithe, Kent, on 19 May 1845. Their first stop was in Greenland, where they replenished their supplies and sent final letters home. After that, the expedition sailed west into Baffin Bay, accompanied by two whaling ships as far as Lancaster Sound.
In July 1845, the expedition was last sighted by the whalers, heading into the labyrinth of ice-choked channels that make up the Canadian Arctic. After that, silence.
Months turned to years, and concern grew. By 1848, the British Admiralty, prompted by Franklin’s wife, Lady Jane Franklin, launched search missions to find the lost expedition. Over the next decade, dozens of rescue attempts were made, some backed by the British government, others funded by private citizens, with Lady Franklin becoming a tireless advocate for uncovering the truth.
Clues from the Ice
For years, only scattered relics, eerie campsites, and Inuit accounts hinted at the expedition’s fate. But slowly, a grim picture began to emerge.
In 1850, searchers discovered the first physical traces, the graves of three crew members on Beechey Island, suggesting that the expedition had overwintered there during the 1845–46 season. The well-preserved bodies, buried under permafrost, hinted at disease, malnutrition, and lead poisoning, possibly from improperly sealed tinned food.
But the biggest breakthrough came in 1859, when an expedition led by Francis McClintock found a written note on King William Island. It revealed that the Erebus and Terror had become trapped in sea ice in 1846 and had remained so for over a year. Franklin died on 11 June 1847, and with no hope of rescue, the surviving crew abandoned the ships in April 1848, attempting to trek south to safety.
The note contained only stark facts. The fate of the men after they left the ships was pieced together through scattered remains, Inuit testimony, and recovered artefacts. It was clear that starvation, hypothermia, and possibly scurvy claimed many lives. There were also disturbing signs of cannibalism among the desperate survivors.
A Mystery Rekindled
Despite these grim findings, key questions remained: What happened to the Erebus and Terror? Why did the expedition falter so catastrophically, despite thorough preparation? And where exactly did the final survivors perish?
For over a century, the Arctic held its secrets. But in 2014, Canadian search teams located the wreck of HMS Erebus in Queen Maud Gulf, nearly 170 years after it vanished. Two years later, HMS Terror was discovered in pristine condition, resting on the seabed near King William Island.
These discoveries provided unprecedented insight into the final chapter of the expedition. Artefacts, preserved interiors, and even the ship’s bell were recovered, offering new clues, but no final answers.
Investigations continue, with researchers hoping DNA testing, forensic science, and analysis of the wrecks will shed more light on the disaster.
Theories and Legacy
The mystery of the Franklin Expedition has spawned countless theories, from lead poisoning and botulism weakening the crew, to poor decision-making under extreme conditions, to environmental factors like unusually heavy sea ice trapping the ships.
Cultural fascination endures. The Franklin Expedition has inspired literature, art, and even television, notably the 2018 series The Terror, which blends historical facts with eerie supernatural fiction.
Yet, for all the speculation, the disappearance of the Franklin Expedition remains one of exploration’s greatest cautionary tales — a sobering reminder of the brutal, unforgiving nature of the Arctic and the limits of human endurance.
The Disappearance of the Franklin Expedition FAQ
The Franklin Expedition, launched in 1845, was a British naval mission to find the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic, led by Sir John Franklin.
The expedition became trapped in ice in 1846. Sir John Franklin died in 1847, and the surviving crew abandoned the ships in 1848, attempting to walk south. None survived.
Yes, HMS Erebus was found in 2014, and HMS Terror was located in 2016 near King William Island.
Theories include extreme weather, starvation, disease, lead poisoning from canned food, scurvy, and even cannibalism among the final survivors.
[this article originally appeared on 5MinuteMysteries.com on 10 July 2025]
