A portrait photograph believed to be of Donald Manson, the Ice Master of the converted screw Sloop Phoenix (1832). He is seated in his overcoat, scarf, and highly-polished hat. According to the Description Book for Phoenix Donald Manson was 5ft 5inches tall, 61 years old with grey hair, a fresh complexion, and grey eyes. Manson joined the ship, by Admiralty Appointment dated 28 February 1854, on 9 March 1854 at Woolwich. 'The Times' of 1 March 1854 records that 'Mr Manson had made 42 voyages in whaling vessels to northern regions'. The Phoenix's Muster Book records him being paid off on 28 October 1854, after the expedition had returned to England.

Mr Manson had previously been an Ice Master serving under Inglefield on the Isabel expedition in 1852 and again on the expedition in Phoenix in 1853. However, prior to that he had served as First Mate on the yacht Sophia on the Franklin search expedition under the command of William Penny in 1850-51. The Aberdeen Journal for 17 September 1851 records that he undertook 8 days sledging totaling 33 miles. The majority of the sledging expeditions were led by Captain Alexander Stewart, the captain of Sophia. By the 1861 Census he is recorded as being the Harbour Master at Peterhead, a position he still held in 1871.