xl INTRODUCTION. 



Lieutenant John Irving entered the Navy in 1828, 

 obtained his lieutenant's commission in 1843, and joined 

 the 'Terror' in 1845. His name is mentioned in the 

 Point Victory record. In the interval between passing 

 his examinations for lieutenant and obtaining that rank, 

 Mr. Irving spent a few years in Australia, where he 

 acquired experience of bush life and its attendant hardships. 

 He possessed an iron constitution, was a talented drafts- 

 man, and in every respect well adapted for arctic service. 



Ice-Masters. — James Read and Thomas Blanky. 

 Previously commanders of Greenland whaleships, distin- 

 guished for their intimate knowledge of the arctic seas, and 

 their experience in ice-navigation. Owing to these valuable 

 acquirements, they were selected and appointed to the 

 ' Erebus ' and ' Terror ' respectively. Mr. Blanky had, 

 moreover, served in the 'Griper,' Captain G. F. Lyon, R.N., 

 in 1824, when an attempt was made to reach Repulse Bay. 

 He also served in the 'Hecla' in 1827 under Sir E. Parry, 

 when that officer tried to reach the North Pole. And we 

 find Mr. Blanky for the third time engaged in an arctic 

 expedition, as first mate of the ' Victory ' with Sir John Ross, 

 in 1829-34; the three years he then passed amongst the 

 Boothian Esquimaux enabled him to acquire a valuable 

 knowledge of their language and habits. 



Surgeons. — Stephen Samuel Stanley and John Smart 

 Peddie. 



Dr. Stanley entered the Navy as an assistant-surgeon in 

 1838. He served in China during the war of 1840-42, 

 and was favourably noticed by his Captain — the late Sir 

 Thomas Bouchier — for having, on several occasions, taken 

 medical charge of the men engaged in active operations 



