John Franklin

author

John Franklin

1786–1847

Known for leading some of the most famous Arctic voyages of the 19th century, this British naval officer became a lasting symbol of courage, hardship, and exploration. His final expedition in search of the Northwest Passage turned into one of history’s great maritime mysteries.

4 Audiobooks

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 2

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 2

by John Franklin

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1

Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1

by John Franklin

Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1825, 1826, and 1827

Narrative of a Second Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1825, 1826, and 1827

by John Franklin, Sir John Richardson

The Journey to the Polar Sea

The Journey to the Polar Sea

by John Franklin

About the author

Born in 1786 in Lincolnshire, he joined the Royal Navy as a boy and went on to take part in major voyages of exploration. He served under Matthew Flinders in Australia and later led difficult overland expeditions in the Canadian Arctic, experiences that helped build his reputation as one of Britain’s best-known explorers.

He was also appointed lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania, from 1837 to 1843. Even after years of service, he returned to Arctic exploration and in 1845 sailed with HMS Erebus and HMS Terror to try to chart the last unknown stretch of the Northwest Passage.

Franklin died during that final expedition in 1847, and the loss of the voyage became one of the most haunting stories in polar history. Searches for his ships and crew continued for generations, turning his name into a lasting part of exploration legend.