Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-15
9aily Nireiuiau.
Sketch of Sir John Franklin.

Sir John Franklin was born Mt Spisby. Ln>
oolnshire. April IL. 1856. lie WAS destined by
his father for the ministry, by nature for the sea.
While at tho Grammar School at Lowth. he walk
ed twelve miles 10 the ocean for the first time.
lie was sent on trading voyage to Lisbon to cure
him OF this bent; tho voyage confirmed II. His
father yielded to nature and procured him midi
shipman's warrant in 1900. lie served ON the
Polyphemus at the battle Of Copenhagen, April
2, 1901. In the Investigator, commanded by his
cousin, Capt. Flinders, he spent two years expo-
ring the coast of australia she proved unscawor.
thy, and he sailed for home in tho Porpose in 1903
which was wrecked on q reef 200 miles from Aus
fifty davs on u sand. bank. They were carried TO
Canton. whence ho called for EnHla in tho China
fleet Of lndiamen. In tho Strait Of Malncca they
were attacked by q French squadron without sue
cess. At home ho joined tho Bellerop ophon, aud Of
forty persons who stood about him at Trafalgar,
but seven escaped unhurt. For six years after
ward he served on tho Bedford. capturing an
American gunboat at New Orleans in the war Of
1872. Here he was wounded, and made licuten.
ant. 1n 1878 he commanded the Trent, tho small
er of two vessels which attempted the North East
Passage to India. Tho larger was disabled and
Capt. Buchan, who commanded the expedition.
refused to allow him to proceed alone. In 1919
he commanded an overland exploration from York
Factory. In tho three years Of this expedition he
mercury was frozen. another foot journey of 500
miles, y long sea voyage in canoes, and was then
obliged I" return without having expor d what
be went for-tho Coast Of tho Arctic OccauO lle
returned and was promoted in 1922. In 1898 he
published an account Of his voyage aud married
Eleanor Pordcn, the daughter of an eminent arch-
itcct. In lS,5. he wns placed at tho head Of an.
other overland Arctic expedition. Ills wife. then
Mt the point OF death, insisted that he should 20,
aud gave to him M PARTING gift silk tag. to DO
hosted when he reached the Polar Sea. She
died the day alter hc sailed, On this Journey ho
reached the ocean, aud Travelled westward from
tho mouth Of tho Mackenzie 374 miles along tho
coast to ll9> 81 west longitude. llc wintered
ut Grcat Bear Lake, where ho instituted series
Of magnetic observations. lie went back to Eng
land by way Of NewYork in 1927, and, in 1898
he married Jane Grifh the present Lady Frank
lin. and published nm account Of his second expe.
dtion. In 1929 he was knigh,ed. received the
degree of d. G. L. from Oxford, and the gold medal
Of the Geographical Society OF Paris IN 1880
he did service in tho Greek revolution as eommai,-
deDof the Rainbow. lie was governor Of Tasma-
MIA from 1896 to 1913. founded college. and en-
dowcd il largely. established the Scientific Asso-
citation OF llobnrton, was very popular, and on
his departure received an enthusiastic ovntion.- -
Ia 1S45 ho sailed in command Of the Erubus and
Terror on his last expedition, On tho d,h ofJuly
of that year it was soon Tor the lust time by white
men from whaleship about the center Of BaAins
Bay. He was to push on through Lancaster
Sound and Barrow's Strait to Melville Sound
aud thence westward rs far rs possible. In lSlS
three expeditions were sent by the British Gov.
ernment in search Of him in 1850 three more
were sent out by tho Government beside two by
Lado Franklin, two by public subscription, and
one by Henry Grinnell of New-York. Franklin's
first Winter quarters were found but nothing
more. In 1852 Sir Edward Bechcr smiled Eng
land in search Of him with five vessels, aud Com
mnnder bayfield, with n screw steamer In 1853
DIR. Kane went onl rs commander of tho second
Grinnell expedition; Lady franklin sent II stea-
nier and smiling v,sol Dir. Rae started for n Soc
ond exploration Of Bnothia. and two vessels wero
sent in aid Of Sir Edward Belcher In 1854 Dr.
ise heard from EsqunauS II story Of forty white
men sledging toward the south. near King vii
liam's Land, i'll the Spring Of $780, and later. Ia
ter, of thirty white eorpses and some graves on
the continent and five corpses, considerably eaten
on an island few miles tn the northwest of the
mouth Of Backs River. DIR. Rae found telescopes
guns, and watches among the natives; he has ex.
hibited them in New York. Mr.. Anderson visit
ed the island in 1855. and found many articles.
but no bodies. lie was unable to reach tho prin-
cipal scene OF disaster. The fate of Sir John re.
manned IA mystery until the discovery of MClin-
tock, which is the news OF to-day.