Letter by Sir John Franklin to Captain Washington, 15 February 1839

Letter by Sir John Franklin to Captain Washington, 15 February 1839

Creator

Franklin, John, Sir, 1786-1847

Created/Published

[1839]

Extent

0.03 m 1 folder (2 letters)

Items

4

Scope and Content

MS 10679 comprises a letter written by Sir John Franklin, Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen’s Land to Captain Washington, dated 15 February, 1839. In this letter Franklin references John Gould (English ornithologist), John Montagu (Colonial Secretary of Van Diemen's Land from 1834 to 1842), and Alexander Maconochie (Private Secretary to Sir John Franklin 1836-1838). John Gould, was a significant author and researcher of Australian wildlife, and was the first major documenter of Australian birds. In the letter Franklin notes that Gould’s research is of great significance and has left very little research for any other ornithologist to discover. Franklin describes John Montagu in this letter as being a ‘gentleman of considerable talent’. At the time of this letter Franklin had accepted Montagu’s leave of absence and requested he be given speaking opportunities during his time in England. Of Alexander Maconochie he states in the letter that he will be silent on his thoughts on him as he has "nothing good to say". Franklin and Maconochie shared opposing views on Australia’s colonial penal system. In 1838 a paper was written by Maconochie criticizing the harshness of Tasmania's penal system and which outlined the poor treatment of convicts. The criticism of this work forced Franklin to dismiss Maconochie in 1838.

Background

Lieutenant-Governor and explorer. Sir John Franklin was the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen’s Land from 1837 to 1843, a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. He led two expeditions into the Canadian Arctic and through the islands of the Arctic Archipelago, in 1819 and 1825. During his third and final expedition, an attempt to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1845, Franklin's ships became icebound off King William Island in what is now Nunavut, where he died in June 1847.