author
Sir Albert Hastings Markham
1841–1918
An Arctic explorer and Royal Navy officer, he is remembered for pushing farther north than almost any of his contemporaries and for writing vivid accounts of life at sea. His career joined naval service, polar travel, and a lasting place in the story of New Zealand’s flag.
1 Audiobook
The Great Frozen Sea: A Personal Narrative of the Voyage of the "Alert"
by Sir Albert Hastings Markham
About the author
Born in France in 1841, Albert Hastings Markham went on to build a long career in the Royal Navy and later reached the rank of admiral. He is best known as an explorer, author, and naval officer, with a life that mixed active service with wide travel and writing.
Markham took part in Arctic exploration and became especially noted for his role in the British Arctic Expedition of 1875–76. He wrote about his experiences in books and journals, helping bring the challenges and excitement of polar travel to a broader public.
He was knighted in 1903 and died in 1918. Markham is also remembered for designing the flag that became the basis of New Zealand’s national flag, giving him an unusual place in both naval and cultural history.