Scientists Identify Four More Sailors from Franklin Expedition
Nearly 180 years after the tragic demise of John Franklin's expedition, scientists have identified four more sailors who perished in the Arctic. This was made possible through modern DNA analysis and samples provided by the descendants of the expedition members.
In May 1845, two British ships – the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror – set sail for the Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Aboard were 129 individuals under the command of John Franklin.
The journey initially went according to plan, but by 1846, the ships became trapped in ice near King William Island. A year later, Franklin died, and the remaining sailors decided to abandon the ships and attempt to reach the mainland on foot. None survived.
Temperatures dropped below -30 degrees, and the crew suffered from hunger and disease. Later search expeditions found remains, belongings, and rare notes, but many fates of the participants remained unknown.
DNA After a Century and a Half
In articles published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports and Polar Record, scientists were finally able to identify four expedition members. Three served on the Erebus: sailor William Orren, cabin boy David Young, and officers' steward John Bridgens. The fourth was Harry Peglar from the Terror – the first sailor from that ship whose identity was confirmed genetically.
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For the analysis, scientists compared DNA from the remains with samples from modern relatives. Some matches were surprising even to the descendants. For instance, one British journalist unexpectedly discovered a familial connection to one of the deceased sailors.
The Mystery of Harry Peglar
The story of Peglar particularly intrigued researchers. His body was found in the 19th century along with rare expedition documents – poems, notes, and descriptions of events aboard. However, the clothing did not match his rank, leading historians to debate for over a century whether it was indeed Peglar.
The new DNA analysis finally resolved this question. Additionally, scientists discovered that he managed to travel about 200 kilometers from the icebound ships before perishing in the Arctic wilderness.
The Mystery Remains Unsolved
Currently, scientists have only identified six expedition members, although over a hundred perished. Researchers hope to continue their work and find new descendants of the sailors for further DNA comparisons.
Each new match not only helps to restore the fates of specific individuals but also gradually pieces together the story of one of the most mysterious disasters in polar exploration history.
