FRANKLIN (SIR JOHN)


Last Will and Testament of John Franklin, signed ("Jno Franklin"), headed in print and manuscript: "In the Name of God Amen, I John Franklin Lieutenant in the Royal Navy", witnessed by William Barrett ("William Barrett Purser R: N") and Samuel Rideout ("Samuel Rideout Lieut RN"), by which he leaves everything to "Willingham Franklin of Horncastle in the County of Lincoln" and appoints Willingham Franklin Junior of Lincoln's Inn and Robert Brine of Clifford's Inn as executors; completed in manuscript on a will form pre-printed by Samuel Smith of Postern Row, Tower Hill, headed with a woodcut of the royal arms; with small papered seal set against the signatures; contemporary docket, 1 page, integral blank, a couple of insignificant old stains at the head, some dust-staining where filed and exposed overleaf, but overall in fine and attractive condition, folio, [London], 13 April 1818
|'I JOHN FRANKLIN LIEUTENANT IN THE ROYAL NAVY' – FRANKLIN MAKES HIS WILL BEFORE SETTING OFF ON HIS FIRST ARCTIC EXPEDITION. Although by this time Franklin had already participated in his uncle Matthew Flinders's circumnavigation of Australia and taken part in the Battle of Copenhagen and Trafalgar, during the years of peace that followed on from the Napoleonic Wars, Arctic exploration under the aegis of John Barrow of the Admiralty remained one of the few avenues for advancement for ambitious Royal Navy officers. Thanks in large part to his experience with his uncle he was appointed Lieutenant Commander of HM Brig Trent in the Arctic expedition commanded by Commander David Buchan in the Dorothea. Their instructions 'directed that they were to make the best of their way into the Spitzbergen seas, where they should endeavour to pass to the northward, between Spitzbergen and Greenland, without stopping on either of their coasts, and use their best endeavours to reach the North Pole – with a suggestion, that where the sea is deepest and least connected with land, it will be found most clear of ice. Their instructions on subjects of scientific inquiry on the voyage, and particularly on those to be noticed on and about the Pole, are carefully drawn up and in great detail, the latter part of which were unfortunately not called into practice' (John Barrow, Voyages of the Discovery and Research within the Arctic Regions, 1846, p.63). Buchan and Franklin however were forced to return to Barrow and report that the pack ice north-west of Spitsbergen formed an impenetrable barrier. Accompanying Franklin on the Trent were Frederick Beechey his lieutenant, and George Back, as Admiralty Mate.Of the parties to this will, "Willingham Franklin of Horncastle in the County of Lincoln" was Franklin's father. "William Barrett Purser R: N" was to serve as purser on the Trent. "Samuel Rideout Lieut RN" did not take part in the expedition, but had served with Franklin on board the 74-gun Bedford during the operations against New Orleans in 1814. The Trent was to set sail from London on 28 April 1818.