McClure, Robert John le Mesurier (1807-1873)

A map of the Northwest Passage, as determined by the Irish explorer Robert McClure. McClure, who originally set out as part of a rescue attempt for a previous expedition, explored the area in the 1850s. He became stranded in the frozen ocean for two years, until he left his vessel and travelled over the ice to a rescue ship. He was later knighted.

Irish explorer and admiral. McClure was one of the first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the Arctic.

McClure was born in Wexford, and joined the Royal Navy in 1824. His first Arctic voyage was on George Back's expedition of 1836. In 1850, he was given command of the ship Investigator, which was sent to find the missing Arctic explorer John Franklin. He failed to locate Franklin, but succeeded in charting entrances to the Northwest Passage around Banks Island, in the Northern Territories of Canada. Despite twice becoming trapped in the ice and having to abandon ship, McClure returned home safely after four years, and was knighted.