Telescope

A relic of Sir John Franklin's last expedition 1845-48. A part of the draw tube of telescope, obtained from the Inuit at Repulse Bay in 1854 by the Rae Expedition. The Inuit said that they had found the material at a camp to the north west of the mouth of the Back River where a party of Europeans had died of starvation. The brass tube has lenses at both ends and screw threads at one end only. The item is shown in the drawing by Edward Pulleyn (AAA3972). It was presented to Greenwich Hospital by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 2 December 1854.

Object Details

ID: AAA2059
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Polar Equipment and Relics
Type: Telescope
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: Arctic Exploration: Franklin's Last Expedition, 1845-1848; Arctic Exploration: Dr John Rae, 1853-1854
Date made: Before 1845
People: Greenwich Hospital
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection
Measurements: Overall: 54 x 25 mm