John Franklin - Miscellaneous, Birthday and Childhood
John Franklin's Personal Details
Sir John Franklin was an English ‘Royal Navy’ officer and an explorer of the Arctic
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 16, 1786 |
| Died on | June 11, 1847 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Miscellaneous, Explorers |
| Spouses | Jane Franklin, Eleanor Anne Porden |
| Known as | Sir John Franklin |
| Childrens | Eleanor Isabella Franklin |
| Birth Place | Spilsby |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Willingham Franklin |
| Mother | Hannah Weekes |
| Sun Sign | Aries |
| Born in | Spilsby |
| Famous as | Explorer |
| Died at Age | 61 |
// Famous Explorers
John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer who was the first European to discover the coast of North America. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, and achievements.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was the legendary Italian merchant, explorer and traveler, who travelled to China and worked under emperor, Kublai Khan. Read this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.
Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is an adventurer popularly known for his bizarre survival tactics in reality television series Man vs. Wild. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, profile, career and timeline.
John Franklin's photo
Who is John Franklin?
Sir John Franklin was an English ‘Royal Navy’ officer and an explorer of the Arctic. He conducted several expeditions, which led to the discovery of many unseen areas on the Canadian coast. Franklin is best remembered for his heroic expedition in search of the ‘Northwest Passage,’ connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. This was his last expedition, and he never returned from the trip. From a very young age, Franklin was fascinated by the sea. Sensing his interest, his father sent him on a trial voyage in a merchant ship. Franklin thoroughly enjoyed sailing, and his career as a voyager began. He was also part of several battles at sea. Franklin’s earliest expedition involved mapping of the coast of Australia, under the leadership of Captain Matthew Flinders. An expedition to chart the north coast of Canada was the first expedition in which Franklin played a lead role. After a few successful expeditions, Franklin became very popular. He was knighted by King George IV and King William IV. Franklin served as the lieutenant governor of Tasmania for a brief period. After his tenure in Tasmania ended, Franklin was again called for expeditions. Armed with the latest technologies of the time, Franklin and his crew set out on two ships to discover the ‘Northwest Passage.’ After a year of sailing, the ships got trapped in ice. The crew members tried to get back to safety, but all of them, including Franklin, perished on the way. Franklin is remembered as a hero who gave up his life for a historic discovery.
// Famous Miscellaneous
Jason Simpson
Jason Simpson is the son of former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O. J. Simpson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, life, and little known facts about him.
Melissa Brim
Melissa Brim is the ex-girlfriend of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Joyce Meyer
Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Childhood & Early Life
John Franklin was born on April 16, 1786, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. His father, Willingham Franklin, was a merchant whose ancestors were country gentlemen, and his mother, Hannah Weekes, was the daughter of a farmer. Franklin was the ninth of the 12 children of his parents. One of his brothers was a judge and another joined the ‘East India Company.’
Franklin attended the ‘King Edward VI Grammar School.’ Although his father wanted Franklin to become either a clergyman or a businessman, Franklin was interested in going on voyages at sea. Thus, at the age of 12, Franklin’s father sent him on a trial voyage in a merchant ship. After the trip, Franklin was sure about his career choice.
In March 1800, Franklin’s father secured a ‘Royal Navy’ appointment for him on the ‘HMS Polyphemus.’ Franklin served as a first-class volunteer and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Later, he was part of an expedition to the coast of Australia on the ‘HMS Investigator.’ The vessel was commanded by his uncle, Captain Matthew Flinders. Franklin also fought in the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of New Orleans.
Career
In 1819, John Franklin started his first expedition as a leader. It was an overland expedition from Hudson Bay to chart the north coast of Canada from the mouth of the Coppermine. During the course of the expedition, Franklin fell into the Hayes and was rescued by his team members. The expedition lasted till 1822, and of the 20 members of the team, 11 died of starvation.
In 1825, Franklin went on his second Canadian exploration. His goal was to travel to the mouth of the Mackenzie. From the Mackenzie, the party was to split into two. Franklin was to travel westward from the Mackenzie, to meet another sailor, Frederick William Beechey. Another group, led by John Richardson, was to travel eastward, till the Coppermine.
On August 16, 1825, Franklin became the second European to travel to the mouth of the Mackenzie. He erected a flagpole to celebrate his victory, and buried letters for other sailors. He traveled westward for one more year and reached ‘Point Barrow,’ which is currently in Alaska. On finding the river frozen, Franklin was forced to give up the exploration. On August 16, 1826, Franklin ended his exploration and traveled back home. This exploration provided a lot of information about the northwest rim of the North American coastline.
Following his successful expeditions, John Franklin was hailed as a hero. On April 29, 1829, he was knighted by King George IV. He was awarded the first gold medal of the ‘Société de Géographie’ of France. In January 1836, Franklin was made the ‘Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order’ by King William IV.
In 1836, Franklin was appointed as the lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land, part of present-day Tasmania. He tried to bring about significant social reforms. Franklin is still remembered in Tasmania, and his statue at ‘Franklin Square’ is one of the significant landmarks in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. The village of Franklin and the Franklin River are tributes to his work. He served in Tasmania till 1843. Franklin was not re-appointed and soon returned to Britain.
After Franklin’s return from Tasmania, the ‘Admiralty’ planned renewed efforts to chart the ‘Northwest Passage’ connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific. Only around five hundred kilometers of the coastline was unexplored at the time. Although Franklin was 59 years old, he was selected to lead this expedition. Two ships, the ‘HMS Erebus’ and the ‘HMS Terror,’ were selected for this purpose. As these ships were equipped with advanced steam engines and modern technology, it was hoped that the expedition would be successfully completed.
On May 19, 1845, Franklin and his crew left the country to chart the ‘Northwest Passage.’ The ships carried provisions for three years. The ships were last spotted on July 26, 1845, by a European whaling ship, when they were moored to an iceberg. None of the crew members were seen alive after this.
Based on later evidences, it was believed that Franklin’s expedition had come to a standstill in the summer of 1846, when the ships were trapped in ice, off King William Island. A note found later confirmed that John Franklin had died of unknown causes, on June 11, 1847. The location of his grave is unknown. All the crew members perished in the expedition. The deaths were caused due to several factors such as starvation, hypothermia, botulism, and lead poisoning.
Personal Life & Legacy
John Franklin had married twice. In 1823, he married Eleanor Anne Porden, who was a poet. They had a daughter, Eleanor Isabella. In 1825, Franklin’s first wife died of tuberculosis.
In November 1828, Franklin married Jane Griffin, a friend of his first wife. She was a strong lady who played a major role in his life. When Franklin was the governor of Tasmania, Lady Franklin worked hard to set up a university and a museum. She also constructed a botanical garden in Hobart.
Two years after Franklin left for the ‘Northwest Passage’ expedition, Lady Franklin urged the ‘Admiralty’ to send a search party. Her search for her lost husband became popular through ballads such as ‘Lady Franklin’s Lament.’
In 1854, explorer Dr. John Rae discovered the true fate of Franklin’s party. According to his report, dire situations had forced some of the crew members to resort to cannibalism. This report enraged Lady Franklin, and she tried to protect her husband’s dignity by sending more search teams.
In 1997, more than a century later, Dr. Rae’s reports about cannibalism in Franklin’s party were confirmed. The blade-cut marks on the bones of the crew showed that cannibalism was present. There were evidences suggesting breaking and boiling of bones.
John Franklin is considered a hero who led a dangerous Arctic exploration. A statue of Franklin in his hometown has an inscription that reads “Sir John Franklin – Discoverer of the North West Passage.” He was commemorated by several geographical names. There are islands in Tasmania, Antarctica, and Greenland that have been named after him.
Trivia
In the ‘Coppermine Expedition’ of 1819, the survivors were forced to eat several inedible items, including their own leather boots. This earned Franklin the nickname of “the man who ate his boots.”
In 2014, the remains of the ‘HMS Erebus’ were discovered, and in 2016, the remains of the ‘HMS Terror’ were found.
// Famous British peoples
Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.
Sophie Reade
Sophie Victoria Reade is a British model and reality show star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life, including her age, birthday, boyfriends, and some interesting facts.
Josh Temple
Check out all that you wanted to know about Josh Temple (Slogoman), the famous British YouTube Personality; his birthday, his family and personal life, his girlfriends, fun trivia facts and more.
John Franklin biography timelines
- // 16th Apr 1786John Franklin was born on April 16, 1786, in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. His father, Willingham Franklin, was a merchant whose ancestors were country gentlemen, and his mother, Hannah Weekes, was the daughter of a farmer. Franklin was the ninth of the 12 children of his parents. One of his brothers was a judge and another joined the ‘East India Company.’
- // 1800In March 1800, Franklin’s father secured a ‘Royal Navy’ appointment for him on the ‘HMS Polyphemus.’ Franklin served as a first-class volunteer and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen. Later, he was part of an expedition to the coast of Australia on the ‘HMS Investigator.’ The vessel was commanded by his uncle, Captain Matthew Flinders. Franklin also fought in the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of New Orleans.
- // 1819In 1819, John Franklin started his first expedition as a leader. It was an overland expedition from Hudson Bay to chart the north coast of Canada from the mouth of the Coppermine. During the course of the expedition, Franklin fell into the Hayes and was rescued by his team members. The expedition lasted till 1822, and of the 20 members of the team, 11 died of starvation.
- // 1819In the ‘Coppermine Expedition’ of 1819, the survivors were forced to eat several inedible items, including their own leather boots. This earned Franklin the nickname of “the man who ate his boots.”
- // 1823John Franklin had married twice. In 1823, he married Eleanor Anne Porden, who was a poet. They had a daughter, Eleanor Isabella. In 1825, Franklin’s first wife died of tuberculosis.
- // 1825In 1825, Franklin went on his second Canadian exploration. His goal was to travel to the mouth of the Mackenzie. From the Mackenzie, the party was to split into two. Franklin was to travel westward from the Mackenzie, to meet another sailor, Frederick William Beechey. Another group, led by John Richardson, was to travel eastward, till the Coppermine.
- // 1825On August 16, 1825, Franklin became the second European to travel to the mouth of the Mackenzie. He erected a flagpole to celebrate his victory, and buried letters for other sailors. He traveled westward for one more year and reached ‘Point Barrow,’ which is currently in Alaska. On finding the river frozen, Franklin was forced to give up the exploration. On August 16, 1826, Franklin ended his exploration and traveled back home. This exploration provided a lot of information about the northwest rim of the North American coastline.
- // 1828In November 1828, Franklin married Jane Griffin, a friend of his first wife. She was a strong lady who played a major role in his life. When Franklin was the governor of Tasmania, Lady Franklin worked hard to set up a university and a museum. She also constructed a botanical garden in Hobart.
- // 1829Following his successful expeditions, John Franklin was hailed as a hero. On April 29, 1829, he was knighted by King George IV. He was awarded the first gold medal of the ‘Société de Géographie’ of France. In January 1836, Franklin was made the ‘Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order’ by King William IV.
- // 1843In 1836, Franklin was appointed as the lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land, part of present-day Tasmania. He tried to bring about significant social reforms. Franklin is still remembered in Tasmania, and his statue at ‘Franklin Square’ is one of the significant landmarks in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. The village of Franklin and the Franklin River are tributes to his work. He served in Tasmania till 1843. Franklin was not re-appointed and soon returned to Britain.
- // 1845On May 19, 1845, Franklin and his crew left the country to chart the ‘Northwest Passage.’ The ships carried provisions for three years. The ships were last spotted on July 26, 1845, by a European whaling ship, when they were moored to an iceberg. None of the crew members were seen alive after this.
- // 1846 To 1847Based on later evidences, it was believed that Franklin’s expedition had come to a standstill in the summer of 1846, when the ships were trapped in ice, off King William Island. A note found later confirmed that John Franklin had died of unknown causes, on June 11, 1847. The location of his grave is unknown. All the crew members perished in the expedition. The deaths were caused due to several factors such as starvation, hypothermia, botulism, and lead poisoning.
// Famous Aries Celebrities peoples
Skai Jackson
Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.
Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore is a model turned actor best known for his role in the television series ‘The Young and the Restless’. This biography of Shemar Moore provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Vasily Zaytsev
Vasily Zatysev was a Russian sniper who served during the World War II. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Ivey Meeks
Ivey Meeks is an American YouTube star and model. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, boyfriends and fun facts.
Tobi Lerone
Check out all that you wanted to know about Tobi Lerone, the famous YouTube Personality and gamer; his birthday, his family and personal life, his girlfriends, fun trivia facts and more.
Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret was a French actress who became the first French person to win an Academy Award. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to her life.
John Franklin's FAQ
What is John Franklin birthday?
John Franklin was born at 1786-04-16
When was John Franklin died?
John Franklin was died at 1847-06-11
Which age was John Franklin died?
John Franklin was died at age 61
Where is John Franklin's birth place?
John Franklin was born in Spilsby
What is John Franklin nationalities?
John Franklin's nationalities is British
Who is John Franklin spouses?
John Franklin's spouses is Jane Franklin, Eleanor Anne Porden
Who is John Franklin childrens?
John Franklin's childrens is Eleanor Isabella Franklin
Who is John Franklin's father?
John Franklin's father is Willingham Franklin
Who is John Franklin's mother?
John Franklin's mother is Hannah Weekes
What is John Franklin's sun sign?
John Franklin is Aries
How famous is John Franklin?
John Franklin is famouse as Explorer