HMS Terror and HMS Erebus left England in 1845 in order to search for the North-West Passage - a vital sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The expedition was commanded by Captain Sir John Franklin, a seasoned polar explorer who had already led two previous searches for the North-West Passage.

However, his final journey to the Arctic would end in tragedy.

Both ships were lost, and all 129 men on board perished. It is the worst disaster in the history of British polar exploration.

October sees the publication of May We Be Spared to Meet on Earth, a collection of letters from the men on board both ships. This collection, featuring many letters of which were previously unpublished, provides new insights into the personalities of these men, the significance of the voyage as they saw it, and the dawning awareness of the possibility that they would never return to British shores or their families.

In this special event we'll be joined by all four editors of the book, Russell A. Potter,  Regina Koellner, Peter Carney and Mary Williamson, as well as a curator from the Museum to explain more about the Franklin relics we hold in the collection.

This event will also be livestreamed. 

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