Fitzjames, James, 1813-approximately 1849

Variant names

Hide Profile

James Fitzjames entered the Royal Navy in 1825, serving in the Euphrates Expedition under Colonel Chesney from 1834 until 1837. Promoted lieutenant in 1838, he served off the coast of Syria and during the first China War between 1840 and 1842. Advancing to the rank of commander in 1842, he was appointed to HMS Clio, in which he served until 1844. He was appointed commander of HMS Erebus on the British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1845-1848 (leader Sir John Franklin), sent to search for a Northwest Passage beyond Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait in the unexplored region south-west of Barrow Strait. Sailing from London in company with HMS Terror in May 1845, the expedition was last seen heading for Lancaster Sound by two whalers in northern Baffin Bay in late July 1845. After that, the expedition disappeared and Europeans never again saw its members alive. Many searches were conducted for the missing expedition, during the course of which the main facts regarding the route taken and final fate of the expedition were established. The two vessels had become beset north of King William Island, where they had spent two winters between September 1846 and April 1848. According to a message left by Fitzjames, Franklin died on 11 June 1847 and the command had devolved on Francis Crozier. Abandoning the two vessels on 22 April 1848, the 105 survivors led by Crozier, with Fitzjames acting as second-in-command, set out toward Back River. All perished during the journey. Fitzjames had been promoted captain in December 1845 during the expedition.

Published work The last journal of Captain Fitzjames, of the lost polar expedition edited by William Coningham, W Pearce (late Wallis) Brighton SPRI Library Shelf (41)91(08)[1845-1848 Franklin]

From the guide to the James Fitzjames collection, 1825-1845, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf James Fitzjames collection, 1825-1845 Scott Polar Research Institute
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition Canada 1845-1848 corporateBody
associatedWith Callender Geoffrey Arthur Romaine 1875-1946 person
associatedWith Colston John person
associatedWith Couch Edward d ? 1848 person
associatedWith Cracroft Sophia 1816-1892 person
associatedWith Crozier Francis Rawdon Moira c 1796-1848 person
associatedWith Cyriax Richard Julius 1885-1967 person
associatedWith Eden George 1784-1849 person
associatedWith Fitzjames James d ? 1848 person
associatedWith Franklin Jane 1792-1875 person
associatedWith Franklin John 1786-1847 person
associatedWith Gore Graham d ? 1848 person
associatedWith Gregory John c 1786-1847 person
associatedWith Griffiths Edward 1792-1883 person
associatedWith McDonald Alexander d ? 1848 person
associatedWith Osmer Charles Hamilton d ? 1848 person
associatedWith Richardson John 1787-1865 person
associatedWith Stanley Steven Samuel d ? 1848 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Northwest Passage
Arctic regions Discovery and exploration
Subject
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1813-07-27

Death 1849

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62h2tmc

Ark ID: w62h2tmc

SNAC ID: 44419002