Nelson's Arctic Voyage: The Royal Navy's first polar expedition 1773

In the summer of 1773, 14-year-old Horatio Nelson joined an expedition to the Arctic. The Royal Society and King George III supported the expedition to find a navigable northern passage between the Atlantic and Pacific. Two bomb vessels, HMS Racehorse and Carcass, were fitted out and strengthened under the command of Captain Hon. Constantine Phipps. The ships became locked in ice far from Spitzbergen and were unable to cut their way out until days later when the wind changed and the ice broke up. Nelson had command of one of the smaller boats and helped to save the crew of a boat belonging to the Racehorse from an attack by a herd of enraged walruses. He also had a famous encounter with a polar bear while attempting to obtain a bearskin for his father. The book creates a picture of the expedition and life on board, using the ships' journals and expedition commander Phipps' journal from the National Archives. It is illustrated using some of the ship's drawings and charts and pictures of many objects used on the ship, while a navigational chart of the route taken has been created from the logbooks. The expedition failed as a result of poor planning, with potentially tragic results, demonstrating the difficulties and uncertainties of such an expedition. It also looks at a great naval commander at the earliest stage of his career and considers how the experience might have shaped his later career and attitudes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the summer of 1773, at the age of just 14, Horatio Nelson embarked on an expedition to the Arctic that nearly ended his naval career before it had even begun. The expedition, supported by the Royal Society and King George III, aimed to find a navigable northern passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Two bomb vessels, HMS Racehorse and Carcass, were equipped and reinforced under the command of Captain Hon. Constantine Phipps. The journey was particularly challenging as it took place during an extremely cold Arctic summer, causing the ships to become trapped in ice far from Spitzbergen. It took several days for the wind to change and the ice to break up, allowing the ships to be extricated and returned home.

During the expedition, Nelson had the opportunity to command one of the smaller boats, a four-oared cutter manned by twelve seamen. He played a crucial role in rescuing the crew of a boat belonging to the Racehorse from an attack by a herd of enraged walruses. His bravery and quick thinking in this situation earned him widespread admiration.

In addition to his heroic actions, Nelson also had a famous encounter with a polar bear while attempting to obtain a bearskin as a present for his father. This encounter later became part of the Nelson legend and is often recounted in popular culture.

To document the expedition and provide a detailed account of life on board, the book draws on the ship's journals and the expedition commander's journal from the National Archives. It also utilizes the ship's muster books to outline the different roles and ranks of the ship's crew. Numerous drawings, charts, and photographs of the ship's objects and equipment are included to enhance the reader's experience.

Furthermore, the book explores the broader concept of naval exploration initiated by Joseph Banks and the Royal Society. It examines the challenges and risks associated with such expeditions and the impact they had on the development of maritime science and exploration.

It is important to note that the expedition failed due to poor planning and resulted in potentially tragic consequences. However, Nelson's leadership and bravery during the expedition continue to inspire and captivate people to this day. His legacy as one of Britain's greatest naval commanders is firmly established, and his contributions to the field of naval history are invaluable.

Weight: 798g
Dimension: 235 x 171 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472954176