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.
