George Back

George Back 1795-1878) created a remarkable record of his expeditions to the Arctic region from 1818 until 1837. His sketches, drawings and writing document the extraordinary Arctic landscape and topography, its people, flora and fauna. He was not alone in charting the Arctic coast. Back's career was intertwined with John Franklin's with whom he served on two expeditions, first from 1819 to 1822 and again from 1825 to 1827.

George Back is recognized as a talented artist, a capable explorer and compassionate leader. His drawings and writing contribute greatly to our knowledge of the Northern Canadian region in the early nineteenth century.

The National Archives of Canada has acquired and assembled George Back's work which includes five sketchbooks, a number of loose watercolours and engraved prints -- some 300 items in total. Over 100 of these unique, manuscript images have been selected and will be shared with you through this SchoolNet Project via the new technology of the Information Highway.

Biographical sketch

Back's association with the British Navy began at thirteen years of age when he joined as a young, first class volunteer in 1808. Shortly thereafter while serving in Spain, Back was captured in 1809 by the French and was interned at Verdun (1809-1814) where he managed to study mathematics, French and drawing. He participated in the Arctic exploration from 1818 until 1837 which included the following expeditions:

1. 1818: voyage to the Spitzbergen seas under commanders John Ross and David Buchan where Back met Lieutenant John Franklin who recognized his artistic talents and usefulness in recording the northern landscape and its people.

2. 1819-22: Back joined John Franklin's first overland expedition whose objective was to chart the north coast of America from the mouth of the Coppermine River to Repulse Bay.

3. 1825-27: Back participated in John Franklin's second overland expedition to explore the Arctic coast to the east and west of the mouth of the Mackenzie River. The expedition commenced in New York State and headed to its winter base at Fort Franklin on the Great Bear Lake.

4. 1833-35: Back lead a search party down the Great Fish River in search of Captain Ross who had sailed to Prince Regent Inlet in 1829 and had not yet returned. He commenced his voyage from the Ottawa River to the Great Fish River (later renamed the Back River). Upon learning in the spring of 1834 that Ross had returned to England, Back chose to continue exploring the Great Fish River along its northern coastline to Turnagain Point.

5. 1836: Back led an expedition by sea in HMS Terror to trace the coast of the Polar Sea between Repulse Bay and Turnagain Point, the farthest point reached by Franklin on his first overland expedition.


The Collection: