Researchers at the University of Waterloo have identified four additional sailors from Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 Arctic expedition through DNA analysis, according to a team led by Dr. Douglas Stenton and Dr. Robert Park.
DNA Analysis Resolves the 166-Year-Old Mystery of Harry Peglar
The latest genetic identifications raise the number of Franklin expedition sailors identified through DNA to six, building on earlier work by the Waterloo research team. According to Dr. Douglas Stenton, adjunct professor of anthropology at Waterloo, three of the newly identified sailors belonged to HMS Erebus and died at Erebus Bay. The fourth individual, the only sailor from HMS Terror definitively identified by DNA analysis, was discovered 130 kilometers away.
That distant sailor has been conclusively identified as Harry Peglar. His identity had remained uncertain since 1859, when a body was discovered carrying Peglar’s personal documents alongside clothing that did not correspond to his rank. Dr. Robert Park noted that the body was found with the “Peglar Papers,” which contain poetry and descriptions of events that unfolded during the expedition.
Did you know? The “Peglar Papers” represent almost the only written documents from the doomed Franklin expedition ever recovered. They include personal poetry and firsthand accounts of the harrowing voyage.
Confirming the Identities of HMS Erebus Crew Members
Alongside Peglar, the research team identified three additional crew members from HMS Erebus, according to findings published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports and Polar Record. The newly named sailors are William Orren, Able Seaman; David Young, Boy 1st Class; and John Bridgens, Subordinate Officers’ Steward.
These identifications confirm that Orren, Young, and Bridgens survived the expedition’s first three years. By April 1848, when the 105 surviving crew members abandoned the ice-trapped ships Erebus and Terror to begin a desperate escape attempt down the west coast of King William Island, these men were among them. None of the crew survived the journey.
How Genetic Descendants Solved the Arctic Mystery
To achieve these matches, Stephen Fratpietro of Lakehead University extracted DNA from the archaeological remains. That genetic material was then compared with mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA supplied by living descendants, according to the study. In each of the four new identifications, researchers found a genetic distance of zero, proving a shared ancestor between the remains and the modern donors.
This genetic work builds on previous breakthroughs by the team. In 2021, DNA from a living descendant identified John Gregory, Engineer of HMS Erebus. In 2024, DNA analysis identified James Fitzjames, Captain of Erebus, with evidence showing his body had been subject to cannibalism. By contrast, the remains of the four sailors identified in the latest research show no evidence of cannibalism.
| Sailor Name | Rank / Role | Ship | Identification Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Gregory | Engineer | HMS Erebus | 2021 |
| James Fitzjames | Captain | HMS Erebus | 2024 |
| Harry Peglar | Captain of the Foretop | HMS Terror | Recent |
| John Bridgens | Subordinate Officers’ Steward | HMS Erebus | Recent |
A Modern Media Connection to the Doomed Voyage
The research also uncovered unexpected personal links between modern individuals and the historic crew. Rich Preston, a BBC News journalist, was contacted by Dr. Stenton and later confirmed through DNA testing to be a direct descendant of John Bridgens, Subordinate Officers’ Steward on HMS Erebus.
“It was such a huge surprise to hear from the team that my DNA was a match with one of the sailors on the doomed Franklin expedition,” Preston said. Researchers emphasize that to qualify for this type of comparison, descendants must provide genealogical records showing a direct, uninterrupted maternal or paternal line.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Franklin Expedition DNA Study
How many Franklin expedition sailors have been identified by DNA?
A total of six sailors have been definitively identified through DNA analysis, following the recent identification of four new crew members by University of Waterloo researchers.
Whose identity was resolved after more than a century?
Researchers used DNA to confirm that a body discovered far from the others in 1859 belonged to Harry Peglar, solving a 166-year-old mystery regarding his mismatched clothing and documents.
How can living descendants help identify more sailors?
Descendants with genealogical records showing a direct maternal or paternal line can contact the research team to provide mitochondrial or Y-chromosome DNA samples for comparison against recovered skeletal remains.
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