Franklin Expedition

The Franklin Expedition was a British voyage undertaken in 1845 to explore the Arctic and find a Northwest Passage through Canada. Led by Captain Sir John Franklin, it consisted of two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. The expedition became infamous when the ships became trapped in ice near King William Island. After several years of searching, all 129 crew members were lost, and the expedition's fate remained a mystery until the late 19th century, when artifacts and remains were discovered. The tragedy highlighted the dangers of Arctic exploration and the challenges posed by extreme conditions.