Hunters on the track : William Penny and the search for Franklin

Captains of whaling vessels were experienced navigators of northern waters, and William Penny was in the vanguard of the whaling fraternity. Leading the first maritime expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, he stood out not just for his skill as a sailor but for his curiosity about northern geography and his willingness to seek out Inuit testimony to map uncharted territory. Hunters on the Track describes and analyzes the efforts made by the Scottish whaling master to locate Franklin's missing expedition. Bookended by an account of Penny's whaling career, including the rediscovery of Cumberland Sound, which would play a vital role in British whaling a decade later, W. Gillies Ross provides an in-depth history of the first Franklin searches. He reconstructs the brief but frenetic period when the English-speaking world was preoccupied with locating Franklin, but when the means of that search – the ships chosen, the route taken, the evidence of Franklin's traces – were contested and uncertain. Ross details the particularities of each search at a time when no fewer than eight ships comprising four search expeditions were attempting to find Franklin's tracks. Reconstructing events, relationships, and decisions, he focuses on the work of Penny as commander of HMS Lady Franklin and Sophia, while also outlining the events of other expeditions and interactions among the officers and crews. William Penny is respected as one of the most influential and innovative figures in British Arctic whaling history, but his brief role in the Franklin expedition is less known. Using primary sources, notably private journals from each of the expeditions, Hunters on the Track places him at the forefront of a critical chapter of maritime history and the geographical exploration that began after Franklin disappeared. Captains Of Whaling Vessels Were Experienced Navigators Of Northern Waters, And William Penny Was In The Vanguard Of The Whaling Fraternity. Leading The First Maritime Expedition In Search Of Sir John Franklin, He Stood Out Not Just For His Skill As A Sailor But For His Curiosity About Northern Geography And His Willingness To Seek Out Inuit Testimony To Map Uncharted Territory. Hunters On The Track Describes And Analyzes The Efforts Made By The Scottish Whaling Master To Locate Franklin's Missing Expedition. Bookended By An Account Of Penny's Whaling Career, Including The Rediscovery Of Cumberland Sound, Which Would Play A Vital Role In British Whaling A Decade Later, W. Gillies Ross Provides An In-depth History Of The First Franklin Searches. He Reconstructs The Brief But Frenetic Period When The English-speaking World Was Preoccupied With Locating Franklin, But When The Means Of That Search--the Ships Chosen, The Route Taken, The Evidence Of Franklin's Traces--were Contested And Uncertain. Ross Details The Particularities Of Each Search At A Time When No Fewer Than Eight Ships Comprising Four Search Expeditions Were Attempting To Find Franklin's Tracks. Reconstructing Events, Relationships, And Decisions, He Focuses On The Work Of Penny As Commander Of Hms Lady Franklin And Sophia, While Also Outlining The Events Of Other Expeditions And Interactions Among The Officers And Crews. William Penny Is Respected As One Of The Most Influential And Innovative Figures In British Arctic Whaling History, But His Brief Role In The Franklin Expedition Is Less Known. Using Primary Sources, Notably Private Journals From Each Of The Expeditions, Hunters On The Track Places Him At The Forefront Of A Critical Chapter Of Maritime History And The Geographical Exploration That Began After Franklin Disappeared.-- Franklin Departs -- William Penny And Arctic Whaling -- The Summer Of 1845 -- Whaling Interlude -- Concern Mounts -- A Silver Penny -- Under Way -- More Hunters On The Track -- North From Disko -- Sail Versus Steam -- A Massacre Reported -- To The West Land -- Into Lancaster Sound -- Wellington Channel -- West To Cornwallis Island -- Beset In The Drifting Pack -- Into Winter Quarters -- Preparations For Winter -- The Festive Season -- The Sledging Season: A False Start -- Second Attempt -- Penny's Boat Voyage -- A Thousand-mile Drift Among The Ice Floes -- Homeward Voyage -- Penny's Arrival -- The Inquiry -- An Open Polar Sea? -- Dispute Over Place Names -- Penny's Portrait -- A Gratifying Ackowledgement -- Persistence -- Postscript. W. Gillies Ross. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format. "Captains of whaling vessels were experienced navigators of northern waters, and William Penny was in the vanguard of the whaling fraternity. Leading the first maritime expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, he stood out not just for his skill as a sailor but for his curiosity about northern geography and his willingness to seek out Inuit testimony to map uncharted territory. Hunters on the Track describes and analyzes the efforts made by the Scottish whaling master to locate Franklin's missing expedition. Bookended by an account of Penny's whaling career, including the rediscovery of Cumberland Sound, which would play a vital role in British whaling a decade later, W. Gillies Ross provides an in-depth history of the first Franklin searches. He reconstructs the brief but frenetic period when the English-speaking world was preoccupied with locating Franklin, but when the means of that search--the ships chosen, the route taken, the evidence of Franklin's traces--were contested and uncertain. Ross details the particularities of each search at a time when no fewer than eight ships comprising four search expeditions were attempting to find Franklin's tracks. Reconstructing events, relationships, and decisions, he focuses on the work of Penny as commander of HMS Lady Franklin and Sophia, while also outlining the events of other expeditions and interactions among the officers and crews. William Penny is respected as one of the most influential and innovative figures in British Arctic whaling history, but his brief role in the Franklin expedition is less known. Using primary sources, notably private journals from each of the expeditions, Hunters on the Track places him at the forefront of a critical chapter of maritime history and the geographical exploration that began after Franklin disappeared."-- Provided by publisher Cover HUNTERS ON THE TRACK Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Illustrations Prologue 1 Franklin Departs 2 William Penny and Arctic Whaling 3 The Summer of 1845 4 Whaling Interlude 5 Concern Mounts 6 A Silver Penny 7 Under Way 8 More Hunters on the Track 9 North from Disko 10 Sail versus Steam 11 A Massacre Reported 12 To the West Land 13 Into Lancaster Sound 14 Wellington Channel 15 West to Cornwallis Island 16 Beset in the Drifting Pack 17 Into Winter Quarters 18 Preparations for Winter 19 The Festive Season 20 The Sledging Season: A False Start 21 Second Attempt 22 Penny’s Boat Voyage 23 A Thousand-Mile Drift among Ice Floes 24 Homeward Voyage 25 Penny’s Arrival 26 The Inquiry 27 An Open Polar Sea? 28 A Dispute over Place Names 29 Penny’s Portrait 30 A Gratifying Acknowledgment 31 Persistence Postscript Unit Conversion Table Notes Bibliography Index of Names Index of Places Index of Ships A detailed account of the controversial Scottish whaling master – authorized by Lady Franklin, yet dismissed by the Admiralty – who led the first of the Franklin searches. A detailed account of the controversial Scottish whaling master – authorized by Lady Franklin, yet dismissed by the Admiralty – who led the first of the Franklin searches.