INTRODUCTION. xxix 



interwoven with the history of his country. In his earliest 

 years he had an opportunity of distinguishing himself in 

 war ; but it was during a period of profound peace that he 

 entered on that arctic career with which his name is especially 

 connected, and in which he won the imperishable fame 

 of solving the vexed problem of centuries. The martyr's 

 palm is his, and theirs who followed him, for " they forged 

 the last link of the North-West Passage with their lives." 



Born at Spilsby, in Lincolnshire, in 1786, young Franklin 

 entered the Navy as a midshipman on board H.M.S. ' Poly- 

 phemus ' in 1800, and was serving in that ship when it led the 

 line at the battle of Copenhagen in 1801. He afterwards was 

 appointed to H.M.S. ' Investigator,' under his distinguished 

 relative, Captain Matthew Flinders, R.N., who was at that 

 time engaged in the discovery and survey of the coasts of 

 Australia; and after two years was wrecked with his com- 

 mander in H.M.S. 'Porpoise' on one of the innumerable 

 coral reefs on its northern coast. 



Franklin, now separated from his chief, was returning 

 home in the fleet of Indiamen under Commodore Dance, 

 when it was attacked by the French squadron under Admiral 

 Linois. In the action, which put the French to flight, 

 Franklin took a conspicuous part. 



On his return home he was appointed to H.M.S. ' Bellero- 

 phon,' Captain Cook, and served as signal midshipman at 

 the battle of Trafalgar, where he was remarked for his 

 imperturbable coolness and intrepidity in a position of great 

 danger. Without enumerating his intermediate services, 

 we find him in 18 14 lieutenant in H.M.S. 'Bedford,' com- 

 manding the boats from that ship in the attack upon New 

 Orleans, when he was the first to board and capture one of 

 the enemy's gun-boats. 



