Ross, Sir John
Ross, Sir John,
1777–1856, British arctic explorer and rear admiral. In 1818 he went in search of the Northwest PassageNorthwest Passage,water routes through the Arctic Archipelago, N Canada, and along the northern coast of Alaska between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Even though the explorers of the 16th cent.
..... Click the link for more information. but turned back after exploring Baffin Bay. Financed by Sir Felix Booth, he commanded a second search expedition (1829–33), in the course of which he discovered Boothia Peninsula, the Gulf of Boothia, and King William Island and explored Smith, Jones, and Lancaster sounds. Ross was knighted in 1833. His last trip to the Arctic was made in 1850–51, when he went to the Lancaster Sound region to search for Sir John FranklinFranklin, Sir John,
1786–1847, British explorer in N Canada whose disappearance caused a widespread search of the Arctic. Entering the navy in 1801, he fought in the battle of Trafalgar.
..... Click the link for more information. . He wrote two books describing his quest for the Northwest Passage.
Bibliography
See E. S. Dodge, The Polar Rosses (1973).