Thomas Button's expeditions, 1612–13
| Dates | Explorer | Ships | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1612–13 |
Thomas Button |
Discovery, Resolution | • Exploration of 600 miles of the west and north shores of Hudson Bay, including the estuaries of the Churchill and Nelson Rivers
• The conclusion that Hudson Bay was a closed bay |
In 1612 Thomas Button sailed with two ships, the Resolution and the Discovery. Amongst the company were two of Hudson’s mutineers, Pricket and Bylot (who had returned the Discovery to England the previous year from Hudson's expedition).
The expedition charted much of the west coast of Hudson Bay, wintering at what is now known as Port Nelson (named after Button’s sailing master, who died there along with several other members of the crew). The action of the ice breaking the following spring crushed the Resolution, which was abandoned and sunk.
The remainder of the expedition (aboard the Discovery) continued to map the west coast of the bay concluding that there was no westward passage to be found. Button did discover an opening in the bay in its northwest corner, but decided this was not the entrance to the passage. In fact he named it Ne Ultra (Latin for ‘No Further’).
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