James Knight's expedition, 1715–19
| Dates | Explorer | Ships | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1715–19 | James Knight | Discovery, Albany | All hands lost |
By 1715 the Hudson Bay Company had established posts along the shores of James Bay and Hudson Bay to service a steady trade in furs. The company itself had little interest in risky ventures such as finding the North-West Passage and wasn’t keen on encouraging explorers into its waters. It is perhaps ironic then it was one of the company’s own traders, James Knight, who re-invigorated the search for the Passage, his efforts ending in tragedy.
Knight had trading relationships with Canadian Indians and was convinced that stories of a river where lumps of 'yellow mettle' could be found and a ‘sea’ to the west spelled opportunities for finding gold and a sea route leading to the Pacific. Many have speculated that the Indians were referring to what are now known today as Coppermine River and Great Slave Lake.
An enduring mystery
Despite being in his seventies Knight came to London and persuaded the company to fit out two vessels – the Discovery and the Albany. The expedition set out from Gravesend, but never returned, adding another mystery to the history of the North-West Passage. We do know that the two ships reached Marble Island and wintered there, but for some reason they were unable to sail again in the spring. The wrecks of both ships were found at the bottom of the bay by divers in 1991–92.
Knight's disappearance remains one of the Arctic's enduring mysteries. With Marble Island within easy sight of the mainland why did the crew not easily reach the shore?