John Franklin ( 1786 - 1847 )

Birth: Lincolnshire, England (16 April 1786) Death: King William Island, Canada (11 June 1847) Profession: Polar explorer Career: Joined the Royal Navy (1800); present at the battle of Copenhagen (1801); sailed in the Investigator with Matthew Flinders; Signal Midshipman on Bellerophon at battle of Trafalgar (1805); Lieutenant serving off New Orleans (1814-1815); Arctic exploration commanding Trent (1818); overland journey from Hudson's Bay, Canada, to Baffin's Bay (1819); further arctic exploration, then served in the Mediterranean (for 3 years); Lieutenant Governor, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) (1836); arrived in Tasmania (1837); recalled to England (1843); never returned from final arctic expedition (set out 1845) Honours: Kt 1829 Membership: Fellow Election Date: 20/02/1823.