Arctic Ordeal: The Journal of John Richardson, Surgeon-Naturalist with Franklin, 1820-1822

Only six of the seventeen original members of Sir John Franklin’s first Arctic expedition returned. John Richardson was one of them. His journal recounts their journey across the barren grounds, and raises questions about Franklin’s ability as a leader. In addition to his achievements as a doctor, meteorologist, and cartographer, Richardson was the first great naturalist to study the North American Arctic. His journal made an outstanding contribution to ornithology, ichthyology, botany and geology, and much of modern Arctic research is founded upon his observations.