xxxix 



Leith to Edinburgh, enabled him to continue his medical and other allied 

 studies, of which Botany was especially a favourite. In 1817 he passed 

 his examinations and took the degree of M.D. Two years later, when an 

 expedition was fitted out by Government to explore by land the northern 

 coast of America, under the command of Lieut. Franklin, H.N., he volun- 

 teered his services, and received the appointment of Surgeon and Naturalist 

 to the party. 



This was the beginning of that career in which he so distinguished him- 

 self ; and it was also the beginning of that friendship with Sir John Frank- 

 lin, of which, twenty-nine years afterwards, he gave such a chivalrous proof 

 in taking the command, at his own request, of the overland expedition, at 

 that time fitted out by the Government, to go in quest of the ' Erebus * 

 and ' Terror,' the melancholy history of which ships, of their gallant crews, 

 and heroical commander can never be forgotten. 



The account of the first Expedition, under the title of "Narrative of a 

 Journey to the Polar Sea in the years 1819,1820, 1821, 1822," by Franklin, 

 amply shows what an important part Richardson took in it: and the indebt- 

 edness of its commander to him for the manner in which he performed his 

 duties and afforded his Chief assistance is most amply acknowledged. Apart 

 from the varied, valuable, and curious information collected relative to 

 regions and tribes of people before little known, much of the narrative, 

 especially that pathetic portion descriptive of privations and sufferings, and 

 that part contributed by Richardson relative to the stern duty of depriving 

 a fellow creature of life, who, there was the strongest proof, had forfeited 

 it by the murder of an officer of the party, with a further design on the 

 lives of others, cannot be read without a feeling of emotion blended with 

 admiration for what was endured and done. 



During the remainder of his long period of service as a Naval Medical 

 Officer, terminating in his retirement in 1855, he never was employed 

 afloat. He had first charge of the Melville Hospital at Chatham, and 

 afterwards, when promoted to the rank of Inspector of Naval Hospitals and 

 Fleets, that of Haslar Hospital. His position now was peculiarly favour- 

 able ; first, in affording facilities for prosecuting his studies' — he was always 

 a student — especially in natural history ; and secondly, as contributing to 

 his comfort, and probably health ; for he was the victim of sea-sickness, a 

 malady from which he had increase of suffering with advancing age, lat- 

 terly even to the endangering of life. Always remarkable for industry and 

 power of application, these qualities were strikingly displayed whilst in 

 medical charge of each of those hospitals. His special duties were not a 

 little onerous, yet by making the most of his time, he was able to contri- 

 bute largely to the advancement of science in its natural history and geo- 

 graphical departments, of which his successive publications afford the best 

 proof — those publications for which a Royal Medal was awarded him by the 

 Council of this Society in 1856, ten years after he had received the honour 

 of Knighthood conferred on him by the Queen in acknowledgment of his 



