The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-09
Bloxr.phie.l kks,eh Of oar John Er.nkIin.

Biographical sketch Of Sir John franklin.
Sir John Franklin was born in l7ss, at Spilsby,
in Lincolnshire. He entered the navy, October /,
$500, a boy, on board the Poliphemus, 65. Cap.
tain John Lawford, under whom he served as mid
sbpman in the action off Copenhagen, April 2,
1901. He then, in the Investigator sloop, sailed
with Captain Flinders, on voyage of discovery TO
New Holland, where, on joining the Porpoise,
armed store. ship, he was wrecked a coral rock,
near Cato bank, August IT, 1903. While on his
passage home, in the Camden, East Indiaman. Mr..
Franklin had charge of the signals, and he distn-
guished himself at the celebrated repuse of pow
erful French squadron, under Admiral Lenois,
February 10, 1904. On his arrival in England he
joined the Belerophon; and subsequently,, under
Captain Cook, took part in the battle of Trafalgar
On being transferred TO the Bedford, "a, Mr..
Franklin was confirmed lieutenant of that ship,
February IL 1908, and escorted the royal family of
Portugal from Lisbon to South America.
During the afterpart of the he was chiefly
employed at the blockade of Flushing; he then, to-
ward the close Of 1914 joined in the expedition to
New Orleans; and for his brave conduct, on Janu-
airy s, 1915, he was officially and very warmly re-
commended for promotion. On January Ii, 1918,
Franklin assumed command of the hired brig
Ifent, in which he accompanied Captain ID. Blu
chanan, Of the DorOthea, perilous voyage OF
discovery to the neighborhood OF Spitzbergen. In
April, next year, Franklin was invested with the
command of an expedition to proceed overland
from iiudson's bay to ascertain the actual position
OF the Coppermine river, and the exact tending OF
tLc Shores Oh the ROAR seas 10
river
This fearful undertaking endured until the sum
mer Of 1922 through journey of $3.50 miles; its
perils and adventures Captain Franklin (whose
commanders and post commissions bear date :
spcctively 1921 and 1929 has ably described in his
"narrativc' of the journey. In 1925 he left Eng
land TO cooperate with Captains Beechy and Bar
ry in ascertanng, from opposite quarters, the eI-
isence OF northwest passage. The results OF this
mission, which terminated in TAO ~ north, longi-
tudc l49o 39' west, will also be found in Captain
Franklin's narrative, lS25-27. On his return TO
England, in September, 1927, be was presented, u
the Geographical Society at'Paris, with gold
medal, valued at 200 francs for having made the
| most important acquisition to geographical know
ledge during the preceding year.
In 1926, at home, he received the honor of
knighthood besides the Oxford degree of d. C..
l.. Sir John Franklin married, first in 1928, the
youngest daughter of William Porden, esq, arch-
tect; and secondly, in 1928, the daughter Of John
Griffin, esq.,, of Bedford Place. From 1880 until
1884 he commanded the Rainboic, 81 on the Med-
| terranean station; and for his exertions in con-
nexion with the troubles in Greece he was pre-
sented with the order of the Redeemer of Greece.
In 1896, Sir John Franklin was created X. Z. II. /;
and afterwards. for some time, Lieutenant
Governor of Van Diemans Land. In 1915. Sir
John Franklin was appointed to the command of
another expedition to the North--tbe Ereb,is,
Captain Franklin,) and the Terror, captain
Crozier, Jon fresh attempt to explore north
west passage through Lancaster Sound and Ben
rings Strait The ships left Greenhithe May 10,
expedition since the day OF its sailing.
At the close of 1877, Government resolved to send
out three expeditions in search Of Franklin and his
party and numbering l40 souls. The first of these
expeditions, her majesty's ship Piover, sailed in
January, IS4S the second expedition, the Enter
prise and Investigator, was placed under the com
mand of Captain Sir James Ross and sailed in May,
1S4s; the third expedition, (overland,) under Sir
John Richardson, having left Liverpool about two
months previously. In the spring of S49, the North
Star left with provisions for Ross's expeditions and
a reward of f20 900 was offered by government to
any land or sea expedition that mi ght render eff
cient assistance to Sir John Franklin, his ships, or
their crews, and contribute directly to extrcate
them from the ice. The past year one of "hope
Deferred regards the sub Jet of the Franklin
expedition.
In the autumn there dawned sudden light;
though ''the time for hope was nearly gone by in
all hearts save that of the noble minded wife, who
,cotild not part with hope" whaler brought a
sealed cylinder; but it only contained information
of Franklins ships TO June, lS45. Another whaler
brought story from the Esquimaux, that the sh ps
of both Franklin and Ross's expeditions were seen
bese by the ice in Prince Regents Inlet late as
March lS49 In November, Ross's expedition re-
turned; and formally ncgatived the circumstantial
story. Almost simultaneously arrived Sir John
Richardson; and since his return the Plovcr. Ne-
Their of the three expeditions has brought any in
teligence of the missing voyager or his compan-
ions.
The public sympathy has been touchingly cx-
pressed the calamitous suspense; and prayers
have been offered up in between sixty and seventy
churches by upwards OF so 900 worshppers, for the
preservation and safe return OF the missing expedi-
ton. A reward of upwards of one hundred guineas
has been promised to any Of the whaling chips
which may bring information OF the voyagers; and
Lady franklin has offered E2, 900 to induce whal.
TO make search in parts not within the scope OF
the government expedition.