Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

Dr. John Rae was a Scottish surgeon who became one of the most remarkable Arctic explorers of the 19th century, and one of its most unjustly forgotten. Between 1846 and 1854, Rae led four major Arctic expeditions, trekking, sailing, and canoeing more than 37,000 kilometres across some of the most unforgiving terrain on Earth.

His discovery of Rae Strait proved to be the final link in a navigable Northwest Passage, which was successfully used by Roald Amundsen in 1903–06. But it was another discovery that would define, and destroy his legacy. In 1854, Rae encountered Inuit hunters who produced artefacts from the lost Franklin Expedition and revealed that the final survivors had been driven to cannibalism. When he brought this news back to Britain, Lady Jane Franklin and Charles Dickens launched a campaign slandering the Inuit as probable murderers, and Rae, as a result, became the only major British explorer of his day never to receive a knighthood.

Unlike his peers, Rae was willing to adopt and learn the ways of indigenous Arctic peoples, which made him stand out as the foremost specialist of his time in cold-climate survival and travel, a quality that made him extraordinarily effective in the field, and deeply unpopular in the drawing rooms of Victorian England.

In this episode of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, host Rich Napolitano tells the full story of Dr. John Rae: ship's surgeon, Arctic surveyor, Franklin expedition investigator, and one of history's most consequential figures hiding in plain sight.

Topics covered: Franklin Expedition, Northwest Passage, HMS Erebus, HMS Terror, Arctic exploration, Inuit history, Victorian maritime history, Hudson's Bay Company

For ad-free listening, access to exclusive bonus episodes, and free perks, please subscribe to the Officer's Club!


⁠⁠Join on Patreon⁠⁠


⁠⁠Join on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠

This episode was written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music is by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠.

**No AI was used during the production of this episode.**

Please leave a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs tee shirts, hats, and other items are available at ⁠⁠⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This replay of episode 35 includes new updates! A 2026 research study has positively identified remains of four men from the Franklin Expedition using DNA analysis. Also, updates about what has been found at the wrecks of HMS Terror and HMS Erebus.

The Franklin Expedition of 1845 was a British voyage led by Sir John Franklin in an attempt to navigate the Northwest Passage, a coveted sea route through the Arctic. Comprising two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, the expedition aimed to explore uncharted territories but tragically ended in disaster. The ships became trapped in ice off King William Island, and all the crew members perished. Despite numerous search missions, the fate of the expedition remained a mystery for over 150 years until the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror were discovered in 2014 and 2016 respectively, shedding light on the hardships faced by the crew, including exposure, starvation, and lead poisoning from poorly preserved food cans, contributing to their demise.

This episode was written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music is by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

**No AI was used during the production of this episode.**

For ad-free listening, access to exclusive bonus episodes, and free perks, please subscribe to the Officer's Club!


⁠⁠Join on Patreon⁠⁠


⁠⁠Join on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠

Love the podcast? Show your support at BuyMeACoffee.com/shipwreckspod.

Please leave a rating and review on ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠⁠, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs tee shirts, hats, and other items are available at ⁠⁠⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The USS Jeannette expedition (1879–1881) is remembered as one of the most tragic and compelling stories in maritime history, blending ambition, endurance, and survival against the odds. Financed by James Gordon Bennett Jr. and undertaken by the United States Navy, the expedition aimed to reach the North Pole via the Bering Strait in search of the theorized open polar sea. Commanded by George Washington De Long, a crew of 33 men departed San Francisco in 1879, only to become trapped in Arctic pack ice shortly after entering the polar region.

For nearly two years, the Jeannette drifted helplessly across the frozen expanse before being crushed by ice in 1881, leaving the crew stranded on the drifting floes of the East Siberian Sea. What followed was a harrowing struggle for survival, as the men attempted to reach Siberia in three small boat parties after becoming separated in a violent storm. Ultimately, only 13 survived, while De Long and many others perished in the unforgiving Siberian wilderness.

The historical record was preserved through De Long’s recovered logbooks, and this story of polar exploration, shipwreck, and human endurance offers an exhaustive account of one of history’s most ill-fated Arctic expeditions.

Much of the research for this 2-part series comes from George De Long's extensive records. You can read them in their entirety here: ⁠https://archive.org/details/voyageofjeannett01delo/mode/2up⁠

For ad-free listening, access to exclusive bonus episodes, and free perks, please subscribe to the Officer's Club!


⁠Join on Patreon⁠


⁠Join on Apple Podcasts⁠

This episode was written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music is by ⁠⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠⁠.

**No AI was used during the production of this episode.**

Please leave a rating and review on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Podchaser⁠⁠, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs tee shirts, hats, and other items are available at ⁠⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The USS Jeannette expedition (1879–1881) is remembered as one of the most tragic and compelling stories in maritime history, blending ambition, endurance, and survival against the odds. Financed by James Gordon Bennett Jr. and undertaken by the United States Navy, the expedition aimed to reach the North Pole via the Bering Strait in search of the theorized open polar sea. Commanded by George Washington De Long, a crew of 33 men departed San Francisco in 1879, only to become trapped in Arctic pack ice shortly after entering the polar region.

For nearly two years, the Jeannette drifted helplessly across the frozen expanse before being crushed by ice in 1881, leaving the crew stranded on the drifting floes of the East Siberian Sea. What followed was a harrowing struggle for survival, as the men attempted to reach Siberia in three small boat parties after becoming separated in a violent storm. Ultimately, only 13 survived, while De Long and many others perished in the unforgiving Siberian wilderness.

The historical record was preserved through De Long’s recovered logbooks, and this story of polar exploration, shipwreck, and human endurance offers an exhaustive account of one of history’s most ill-fated Arctic expeditions.

Much of the research for this 2-part series comes from George De Long's extensive records. You can read them in their entirety here: https://archive.org/details/voyageofjeannett01delo/mode/2up

For ad-free listening, access to exclusive bonus episodes, and free perks, please subscribe to the Officer's Club!


Join on Patreon


Join on Apple Podcasts

This episode was written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music is by ⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠.

**No AI was used during the production of this episode.**

Please leave a rating and review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Podchaser⁠, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs tee shirts, hats, and other items are available at ⁠shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hell Ships is the name given to prisoner of war transport ships used by the Empire of Japan during World War 2. These ships were truly nightmarish. Thousands of POWs were crammed shoulder to shoulder in the holds of these ships, in brutal heat, unsanitary conditions, with rancid water, limited food, and no room to lie down. These ships were also unmarked, and were often targeted by Allied planes, ships, and submarines. Rich and guest Jenny Chan discuss Hell Ships and other atrocities during the war in the Pacific.

Rich is joined by Jenny Chan, who is the co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education. Learn more at pacificatrocities.org.

This episode was written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. Original theme music is by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise is available at shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com.

Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.

Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices