How the Northwest Passage goes through the Oval Office

And the little ship that could.

Hey, twifckers. Coming into your inbox for two reasons: To say hello, and to tell you about a little fact I’ve been thinking about for weeks.

Disko Island (Jacqueline Kehoe)

In 1848, the British government knew the Franklin Expedition—the crew mapping the Northwest Passage—was screwed. Six merchant ships were purchased and refitted between 1848 and 1850 to find the missing men: the HMS Pioneer, Intrepid, Assistance, Enterprise, Investigator, and Resolute.

Between 1850 and 1851, the HMS Resolute (the flagship), Assistance, Pioneer, and Intrepid sailed into the eastern Arctic under the command of Horatio Thomas Austin. During this mission, they discovered evidence of Franklin’s first winter camp on Beechey Island, but no men. Progress, but no dice.