John Rae - 1847-1849, 1851, 1853-1854

John Rae

 Accomplishments:

• on his second journey, Rae reached Victoria Island and explored its southern coasts from Cape Baring to Pelly Point
• on his third voyage he completed the coastal survey northward from the Castor and Pollux River while discovering Rae Strait as well as the insularity of King William "Land"
• during his journey Rae encountered some natives who told him of the fate of the Franklin's ships and from whom he obtained crested silver-plate and personal effects belonging to members of the expedition

Interesting Facts:

• for the information which he brought home with him, Rae received the offered reward of 10,000 pounds for "settling" the fate of the lost explorers

  View Voyage Route

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

Image courtesy of Stephen Pearce/NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA/C-6036