The quest for a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean was a great interest to Great Britain, whose maritime vessels sailed the world in support of its colonies and trade.  To discover the fabled Northwest passage would reduce the distance between Europe and the far east dramatically. The Northwest Passage would not only save time and money, it would also become the main transit route for trade between Europe and Asia.

On 19 May 1845, Sir John Franklin and his men (24 officers and…