ROSS (Sir James Clark, 1800-1862, Arctic Explorer, Discoverer of the N. Magnetic Pole)

Autograph Letter Signed "James Ross Capt. RN" to D. B. Habgood Esq. saying that he has "much pleasure in complying with your request ...", 1 side 8vo., 12 Pall Mall, 21st November

Ross was a Royal Navy officer and polar explorer known for his explorations of the Arctic, participating in two expeditions led by his uncle Sir John Ross, and four led by Sir William Parry, and, in particular, for his own Antarctic expedition from 1839 to 1843.
On 31st January 1848, Ross was sent on one of three expeditions to find Sir John Franklin. He was given command of HMS Enterprise, accompanied by HMS Investigator. Because of heavy ice in Baffin Bay he only reached the northeast tip of Somerset Island where he was frozen in at Port Leopold. In the spring he and Francis McClintock explored the west coast of the island by sledge. He recognised Peel Sound but thought it too ice-choked for Franklin to have used it. In fact Franklin had used it in 1846 when the extent of sea ice had been atypically low. The next summer he tried to reach Wellington Channel but was blocked by ice and returned to England. Ultimately every member of Franklin's expedition perished. This must be quite shortly after he returned.

Item Date:  1849

Stock No:  41649