About the lecture

On May 19, 1845, Her Majesty’s Ships (HMS) Erebus and Terror of the Royal Navy departed England on a much-heralded Arctic expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. Under the command of Sir John Franklin, former Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land (now the Australian state of Tasmania), the expedition’s two ships set out with a complement of 129 officers and crew. The ships were last seen entering Baffin Bay in August 1845. Nearly 170 years later the Canadian Victoria Strait Expedition team, using sonar technology, discovered a ship on the sea floor which, on September 30, 2014 was confirmed to be the lost HMS Erebus. Led by Parks Canada, the 2014 expedition combined state-of-the-art technology with 19th century Inuit oral testimony to make this exciting discovery.

Presented by the High Commission of Canada in Canberra, as part of their Canada Down Under Days, the Franklin Discovery Lecture will explore both the intriguing history of the lost Franklin Expedition, and the 21st Century story of the discovery of HMS Erebus.

Speakers

The lecture will be delivered by Dr Erika Behrisch Elce of the Royal Military College of Canada, whose work focuses on the letters of Lady Franklin concerning the search for the lost Franklin Expedition, and Canadian Coast Guard Captain William (Bill) Noon who commanded the lead vessel in 2014 during the search for the Franklin ships.

The presentation will be in English, followed by a bilingual question period.

Registration: Online

Webcast Thursday, February 19, 5:30–7:00pm, Australian Eastern Time (GMT/UTC +11)

Those viewing the Webcast in real time may ask questions via the chat.