Robert McClure and the Secret of the Northwest Passage

First Arctic Voyage
1848 - 1849

McClure and his shipmates searched the Arctic for Franklin and his crew, continuing by sledge when their ship became frozen in ice Copyright/Source

In 1848, McClure returned to the Arctic as first lieutenant aboard HMS Enterprise. The expedition, with HMS Investigator, was the first (of many) to search for Sir John Franklin and his crew. (They had disappeared without a trace while trying to find the Northwest Passage.) Enterprise became frozen in Lancaster Sound and the searches had to be conducted by sledge. They failed to find any information about Franklin.

Reward for finding Franklin's lost expedition in the Arctic. Copyright/Source

Lost But Not Forgotten
When the HMS Enterprise and other search ships returned without a sign of Frankin and his crew, rewards were offered for information leading to their discovery and rescue. It was thought that because Franklin's expedition had been so well stocked with provisions they would be able to survive quite comfortably until they were found. They were wrong.