FrankExp.+Life&times

Lifestyle & Times



An important consideration when studying something is the context in which it took place. The context of the Franklin Expedition in particular provides remarkable insights into how and why the events took place.

The 1800's carved the way for a growing British Empire. Britain, as the world's leading power, had control over 25% of the global population, as well as one fifth of the world's total land mass. Industrialisation was a topic on the lips of all citizens, and tinned food was a recent and marvellous invention. The HMS Terror and HMS Erebus would accept nothing less than the best supplies for their voyage, so it was only natural for them to order 8 000 tins (For more information see: Cause of Death - Theories) to last the five years of their planned expedition.

When the sailors began experiencing symptoms from their poisoning, it is unlikely they would have made a connection to the lead present in their food tins. Lead poisoning was not commonly known about in the Victorian age, and sailors would have been more concerned about scurvy. The likelihood of the sailors mistakenly diagnosing themselves with scurvy is high.

Victorians were keen to mimic the accomplishments of their Elizabethan forefathers, who had a strong penchant for geography. Both marvelled in the idea of mapping new, uncharted territory and discovery lands known of only in myth. This is what would have created the allure of finding the fabled North-West Passage, which was the objective of the expedition.

However, there are some questions context cannot provide answers for. Namely how it was that the ships met their doomed fate, despite their design suggesting such a fate was almost impossible. The HMS Terror and HMS Erebus were state of the arc bomb ships, built to withstand attacks of various natures. So, how was it that they met their demise with mere ice? Screw propellers, driven by wheel-less steam locomotive, powered the ship forward with a force that would overcome ice impediments. Furthermore, both vessels were covered with iron sheets.

 Hot water piping ran through floor, which provided the crew with leisurely hot water for bathing. Among the numerous resources aboard, each ship was equipped with a library containing between 1 200 and 1 700 volumes. These books, among the other extravagant artefacts aboard, are likely to be perfectly preserved where they lay lost beneath the ocean.

Also crucial to context, are the people of the time. Click on the following links to be redirected to information concerning notable persons to the expedition: Sir John Franklin (the captain), John Torrington (a petty officer) and John Hartnell.

__ Further Reading __


 * //The Franklin Expedition (1845-1859), // []
 * Foss, Lindsay. //Franklin's Lost Ships, // [], cited 14/08/2011

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