Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-08
Life OF Sir John Franklin.

The following particulars Of the biography OF
the distinguished navigator, the discovery of
whose unhappy fate has engaged the attention 50
much of late. we find in the New York Post:
Sir John franklin, who at very early age
manifested the adventurous spirit that character
lied his later career, was born in Spilsby in Lin
colnshire. IN I7o6. The evident bent OF the boys
mind for sailors life not meeting with the faith
er's views, he was sent un voyage to Lisbon IN
merchant vessel, in hupes the reality would oP
crate as cure. The attempt failed, and at the
ace of l4.he entered the British navy as mid
sRipman, on board the Polyphemus, in which ca
pacity he served at the battle of Copenhaagen.-.
In 1903 he accompanied his relative, Captain
Flinders. on voyage of discovery to the South
seas. and was shipwrecked on the coast OF New
Holland. He was afterward signal officer on the
Beleruphon, (the ship on board which Napoleon
took refuue in 1859 at the battle OF trafalgar,
and in 1914 served as lieutenant upon the BED
hrd. which carried the allied soverelgns TO Eng
land In 1915 he was al the attack upon New
Orleans. which ended so disastmusly for the Brit
lsb. and won considerable reputation by the cap
,nre Of an American gun boat. In 1910 he was
.nno;nted to the command of the brig Trent,
which formed part of the Polar Expedition under
Canaan Ruchan. He afterwards held command
in the expedition of Ross and Parry, at which
time he examined the coast as far north as cape
Turnauain. 6S degrees so minutes north latitude,
and returned to England in 1922, after having
suffered great hardships and privatlons, and was
only saved from death by the kindness ol the LIS
quimaux. :, 1905
in company with the same parties he undertook
second VOYAGE to the Polar seas, and examined
tho coast between the Mackensie and Coppermine
rivers. He returned in 1927, having reached ~
deg 20 min. north latitude and l50 deg. wes'
Io1o.. and was knighed by George ~. In ack
nowledgment of his services. In 1851 ne was ~
co,oma6d of a shin Of the-line in the Medterrane-
an and was afterwards sent as Governor 10 van
Diemar,s Land. from which post he was recalled
in IS43 Early in 345 he returned TO England
and was at once appointed to the command OF Inc
evnedition to the Polar seas, from which ne new
or returned and which was expected to add large,
ly to the stock of geographical knowIeoge Tho Sho
that of the laws which govern the lnasnet' ~ nv
Erebus and Terror, the two ships WIN "iilcu we
Younger Russ, in 1889, had made his ce'epiateu C,
yovaSe to the South Polar seas, were rapidly h'-
ted up with everything necessary lot .ne se'rIs
and With the distinguished officers, CaPts. Cro'
himsalt the expedition left England on the loth
Of is May of that Year 1t was spoken by several Ysh
whale ships on the 4th of July. and on the 2o!h n
of the same month was seen for the last las time IN
Melvile's Bay, lat. II north, long % 10 weS'
from Greenwich. ;, .,,ors hso.m .
Fears respecting the missing navigators oecale
general in England in lS49, and since that perl
Cd several expeditions have been fitted out there, ae
as well as one from this country for the me pufpSSJr pf SIS,
Of either rescuing or asceraning the fate OF oir
!, Iobn b and his companions. They have all re,
turned @ without success. The only traces hther. a
to discovered have been the graves of three Of the
party and empty cans used for iG1aaas 1s saps
g;t;or THE searches instituted at the request OF
S,.'yR the English by the Russian government among g
;S ' nossessions on the Arctic Sea has met with no
result But the veil seems about to be lifted rsacbd hed
ns f,om Canada prove correct, we shall soon prob
ably know all that can ever be known OF SlF'ohn
franklin and those under his command.