The Lost Franklin Expedition

Join Into History for ad-free listening and other great perks. The Franklin Expedition of 1845 was a British voyage led by Sir John Franklin in an attempt to navigate the Northwest Passage, a coveted sea route through the Arctic. Comprising two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the expedition aimed to explore uncharted territories but tragically ended in disaster. The ships became trapped in ice off King William Island, and all 129 crew members perished. Despite numerous search missions, the fate of the expedition remained a mystery for over 150 years until the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016 respectively, shedding light on the hardships faced by the crew, including exposure, starvation, and lead poisoning from poorly preserved food cans, contributing to their demise. For show notes and photo gallery, please visit https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2023/12/12/franklin-expedition/. Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise is now available! Original theme music by Sean Sigfried.