Return to HMS Investigator.
21 July 2026.
After fifteen years, Parks Canada has returned to the wreck of HMS Investigator. In May, Jonathan Moore and Ryan Harris of the Underwater Archeology Team departed immediately from the Franklin archaeology session in Canmore, Alberta, to fly to Mercy Bay.
Though unannounced until now, there was a hint in an expedition update from Hubert Sagnières (author of For Glory Not Gold) and Mike Beedell, who this spring recreated Bedford Pim’s sledge journey from Dealy Island to the stranded HMS Investigator. Upon arriving at Mercy Bay, the two had tellingly reported “spending time with Parks Canada” there.
A two-minute video has now been released by Parks Canada to Youtube, with new views of the ship, stating that the data gathered will be used “to produce an archaeological report and detailed 3D virtual model.”
Though given a severe haircut by passing icebergs, it is reassuring to see that HMS Investigator still survives at all.
Press release with (very low-res) photos:
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/investigator/2026-investigator
Video footage at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6AGdWfcXfo
14 July 2025/2026.
Eleanor Anne Porden: The unknown life of John Franklin’s first wife.
In a recent update to her blog (link), Eleanor Porden specialist Sam Pope has revealed that her (previously members-only) talk at Greenwich’s National Maritime Museum has now been made public by the museum (though unlisted to those without the link).
This is an excellent run through the life of Eleanor, and showcases Pope’s sense of where the best stories are at every stage in Porden’s life. I do hope that this talk is the blueprint for a forthcoming biography.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/members-lecture-eleanor-anne-porden
Direct link to Youtube:
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