John Ross departs in search of the Northwest Passage
- When
- 1818
- Where
- London
- Episodes
- 1
In April 1818, John Ross departed London commanding the hired vessel Isabella, accompanied by Alexander under Lieutenant William Edward Parry. This Admiralty-organized expedition aimed to explore Baffin's Bay and investigate the probability of a Northwest Passage, marking the first of a new series of attempts to answer this geographical question.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. Rear-Admiral Sir John Ross, a British naval officer and explorer, received command of an Arctic expedition in 1818. Organized by the British Admiralty, this mission was the first of a new series of attempts to determine the existence of a Northwest Passage. The expedition's stated purpose was to explore Baffin's Bay and inquire into the probability of such a sea lane connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Expedition Preparation. The expedition consisted of two vessels hired by the Admiralty: Isabella, commanded by Ross, and Alexander, under Lieutenant William Edward Parry. Parry served as Ross's lieutenant on this expedition. The voyage of discovery was made under the orders of the Admiralty in His Majesty's ships Isabella and Alexander, for the purpose of exploring Baffin's Bay and inquiring into the probability of a north-west passage. The legacy row names only Isabella, but the expedition sailed with both ships.
People involved
- John Ross · Commander of the expedition and captain of Isabella
- William Edward Parry · Lieutenant commanding the vessel Alexander
Sources
- John Ross (Royal Navy officer) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-07
- Northwest Passage Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-05
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