Researchers Identify Additional Victims from Franklin's Arctic Expedition, Shedding Light on Historical Tragedy
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have identified four additional crew members from Sir John Franklin's ill-fated 1845 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. The newly identified remains include William Orren, David Young, John Bridgens, and Harry Peglar. The expedition, which involved 129 officers and crew aboard HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, became trapped in ice near King William Island in 1846. The crew attempted to escape on foot in 1848, but none survived. DNA analysis, which matched samples with living descendants, played a crucial role in these identifications. The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, also revealed evidence of cannibalism among the crew, with Captain James Fitzjames being the only identified victim of this fate. 
