HMS Erebus in icebergs
Date
1847
Creator
Thomas Picken (1798 - 1870, British) , Engraver
After
John Edward Davis (1815 - 1877, British) , Naval officer
Object type
Library reference
RCN15797
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 135mm
width (print): 219mm
width (print): 219mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Maritime scene showing HMS Erebus sailing between icebergs with damaged sails and HMS Terror signalling in the distance on 13 March 1842.
Plate from the A voyage of discovery and research to the Southern and Antarctic regions, during the years 1839-43, by James Clark Ross, vol. 2, (John Murray, London, 1847), pp.220/221.
The plate is inscribed: ‘I.E.Davis, Del. T. Picken lith. Day & Haghe, lithrs. to the Queen. THE EREBUS PASSING THROUGH THE CHAIN OF BERGS, 13TH MARCH 1842. London, J. Murray, Albemarle Street.’
Of this event, the accompanying text states relates that: ‘…the difficulty now was to get the ship’s head turned round and pointed fairly through the two bergs, the breadth of the intervening space not exceeding three times her own breadth; this however we happily accomplished; and in a few minutes after getting before the wind, she dashed through the narrow channel, between two perpendicular walls of ice, and the foaming breakers which stretched across it, and the next moment we were in smooth water under its lee. The Terror’s light was immediately seen and answered…’
John Edward Davis (1815-1877) British naval officer serving aboard HMS Terror during the Antarctic Expedition of 1839-1843.
Sir James Clarke Ross (1800-1862) British polar explorer and naval explorer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1828. He commanded the Erebus and Terror Antarctic Expedition of 1839-1843.
Plate from the A voyage of discovery and research to the Southern and Antarctic regions, during the years 1839-43, by James Clark Ross, vol. 2, (John Murray, London, 1847), pp.220/221.
The plate is inscribed: ‘I.E.Davis, Del. T. Picken lith. Day & Haghe, lithrs. to the Queen. THE EREBUS PASSING THROUGH THE CHAIN OF BERGS, 13TH MARCH 1842. London, J. Murray, Albemarle Street.’
Of this event, the accompanying text states relates that: ‘…the difficulty now was to get the ship’s head turned round and pointed fairly through the two bergs, the breadth of the intervening space not exceeding three times her own breadth; this however we happily accomplished; and in a few minutes after getting before the wind, she dashed through the narrow channel, between two perpendicular walls of ice, and the foaming breakers which stretched across it, and the next moment we were in smooth water under its lee. The Terror’s light was immediately seen and answered…’
John Edward Davis (1815-1877) British naval officer serving aboard HMS Terror during the Antarctic Expedition of 1839-1843.
Sir James Clarke Ross (1800-1862) British polar explorer and naval explorer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1828. He commanded the Erebus and Terror Antarctic Expedition of 1839-1843.
Associated place