Facing the past

Canadian researchers have positively identified a crew member of the doomed 1845 Franklin expedition. DNA testing of skeletal remains that were first discovered in 1859, combined with genealogical analyses, revealed the crewman to be Warrant Officer John Gregory of HMS Erebus. The ship, along with the HMS Terror, departed Britain 176 years ago in a failed search for a northwest passage through the Canadian Arctic. All hands were lost, with some crew members languishing up to three years in ships trapped in sea ice before perishing. The research team that identified Gregory included members from the University of Waterloo, Lakehead University, and Trent University. Gregory is the first Franklin expedition member to be positively identified via DNA testing.

The skull of a Franklin expedition crew member, left, discovered in 1859, was used by forensic artist Diana Trepkov to create a likeness of John Gregory, right, the first crew member to be identified via DNA testing.