Robert M'Clure - 1850-1854

Robert M'Clure

Accomplishments:

• M'Clure travelled along Prince of Wales Strait to within 30 miles of Viscount Melville Sound
• he realized then that if he were to enter the sound he would establish the route of the Northwest Passage and decided to winter nearby
• M'Clure's sled parties explored westward along the north coast of Banks Island as well as both shores of Prince of Wales Strait
• ice blocked M'Clure's attempt to enter Viscount Melville Sound that next summer and he was forced to take another route
• he got as far as Mercy Bay where the ship was abandoned and the party set out on sleds, crossing to Winter Harbour and leaving the record which Mecham, of Kellet's party, found in 1853 and which led to the party's rescue

Interesting Facts:

• M'Clure crossed Viscount Melville Sound on foot, thus completing the last link in one of the routes of the Northwest Passage
• for this, he and his crew were awarded the Admiralty prize despite some protest

  View Voyage Route

Information taken from Arctic Canada, Volume I, Third Edition, 1982

Image courtesy of Stephen Pearce/NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA/C-87256