Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-19
Biographical Sketch of Sir John
Franklin,

Spsby, in Lincolnshire. He entered the navy,
October l, l80U as boy, on board the Poliphe.
mus, 65, Captain John Lawford, under whom he
served as mdshipmon, in the action off Copen-
hagen, April 2, 1901. He then, in the Tnvesti-
gator sloop, sailed with Captain Flinders, on
voyage of discovery to New Holland where, on
joining the Porpolse, armed storeship, he was
wrecked on coral rock, near Cato bank, Au-
gust IL, 1903 While on his passage home, in
the Camden, East Indiaman Mr.. Franklin had
charge of the signals, and he distinguished him
self at the celebrated repulse of a pow erful
French squadron, under Admiral Lenois, Febua-
ry Is, 1904. On his arrival in England he join
ed theBelopheron and subsequently, under Cap
tain Cook took part in the battle of Trafalgar.
On being transferred to the Bedford "a, Mr..
Franklin was confirmed lieutenant of that ship,
FEBRUARY ii, 1908, and escorted the royal family
of Portugal from Lisbon to South America.
During the after part of the war he was chiefly
employed in the blockade Of Flushing he then,
toword the close of16l4, joined in the expedi-
ton to New Orleans and for his brave conduct.
on January 8, 1916. he was Officially and very
warmly recommended for promotion. On Janu-
ary IA, 1918, franklin assumed the command eff
the hired brig Trent, in which he accompanied
Captain D. Buchanan, of the DorOtbcu, on per- {
ous voyage of discovery to the neghborhood of
Sptzbergen. 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 the shores of the Polar seas
10 the eastward Of that river.
This fearful undertaking endured until the sum-
mer of 1923, through journey of $3.50 miles, it's
perls and adventures Captain Franklin whose
commanders and post commissions bear date re-
spectivey 1921 and 1922 has ably described in
his Narrative" of the journey. In 1925 he left
England to cooperate with Captains Ceechy and
Barry in ascertaining from opposite quarters, the
existence of a northwest passage, The result of
this MISSION which terminated in "a @ "a north,
longitude 1890 49, west, will also he found in
Captain Frankn's Narrative, l825-27. On his
return to England, in September, 1927, he was
presented, by the Geographical Society at Paris,
with gold medal, valued at 200 francs, for hav-
ing made the most important acquisition to geo.
graphical knowledge during the preceding year.
In 1896, at home, he received the honor of
knighthood, besides the Oxford degree of D. e.
l. Sir John Franklin married, first in 1923, the
youngest daughter ofWam Porden, esq, archi-
tect; and secondly, in 1928 the daughter of John
Griffin, ESQ.,, of Bedford Place. From 1880 until
1894 he commanded the RdnbOlU, %, on the
Mediterranean station aud ior his exertions in
connection with the troubles in Greece he was
presented with the order of the Redeemer of
Greece. In 1886, Sir John Franklin was crca-
ted K. &. H.; and was afterwards, for some time,
Lieutenant Governor of Van Dleman's Land
In 1845, Sir John Franklin was appointed to the
C, mmand of another expedition to the North
the Erebus, Captain Franklin and the Terror,
Captain Crozier, (-on fresh attempt to explore
a northwest passage through Lancaster Sound
and Bhering's Strait The ships left Greenhi-
tho, NAV l9' 1876. Little intelligence has
been received Of the expedition since the day Of
its sailing.
At the close of 1S47, Government resolved to
sent out three expeditions in search of franklin
and his party, and numbering l40 souls Tho
first Ofthese expeditions, her majesty's ship PiOusr
sailed in January, ls4S; the I'd expedition, the
Enterprise and Investigator was placed under the
command of Captain Sir James Ross, and sailed
in May, 1S4s the third expedition, (overland,)
under STJohn Richardson, having left Liverpool
about two months previously In the Spring Of
'49, the North Sta, lef with provisions for Ross
expedition and reward Of eco, 900 was Offer
ed by Government to any land OF sea expedition
that might reBler efficient assistance to SIR John
Franklin, his ships. or their crews, and coRtrib-
ute directly to extricute them from the ice. The
past year was one "hope deferred, as regards
the subject of the Franklin expedition.
In the Autumn there dawned sudden light
though the time for hope was nearly goAe by
in all hearts save that of the noble-minded wife,
who ,OOuId not part vith hope" A vhaler brought
a sealed cylinder; but it oaly contain ID iniorma'
toa Of p+anklin's ships to June, l84A Anotbe'