DNA Analysis Identifies Additional Crew Members from Franklin Expedition

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have identified four additional crew members from Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition to find the Northwest Passage, using DNA analysis. The identified crew members are William Orren, David Young, John Bridgens, and Harry Peglar. The expedition, which included 129 officers and crew aboard HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, became trapped in ice near King William Island in Nunavut in September 1846, leading to the death of Franklin in 1847 and the eventual abandonment of the vessels in April 1848. All 105 remaining crew members died while attempting to escape. The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, brings the total number of identified sailors to six, following previous identifications in 2021 and 2024. The DNA analysis matched skeletal remains with samples from living descendants, revealing insights into the harsh conditions faced by the crew. The research aims to enhance understanding of the expedition's catastrophic loss of life and provide closure for the families of those who did not return.