Cirrus@Austlit

John Franklin worked with his cousin, Matthew Flinders in 1801 on the exploration and mapping of the east coast of Australia and later continued his interest in scientific discovery with an Arctic expedition. He made further expeditions until his appointment in 1836 as Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land, a post he held until 1843.

On his return to England, Franklin accepted another commission to discover a North West Passage to the Pacific. He set out on this ill-fated voyage in 1845. Franklin did not return. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of rear-admiral in 1852.