John Rae (explorer)
| John Rae | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Stephen Pearce, 1862
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| Born |
30 September 1813 Hall of Clestrain, Orkney, Scotland |
| Died | 22 July 1893 (aged 79) Kensington, London, England |
| Resting place |
St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland |
| Monuments |
Marble statue and plaque St. Magnus Cathedral Blue plaque Lower Addison Gardens, Red Sandstone plaque in chapel of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster Abbey, London September 30, 2014 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Physician, explorer, surveyor, chief factor of Mackenzie River District for Hudson's Bay Company, York Factory |
| Years active | 1833–1864 |
| Employer | Hudson's Bay Company |
| Organization |
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| Known for | Explored much of Northern Canada Reported Fate of Franklin Expedition |
| Notable work |
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| Spouse(s) | Catherine Jane Alicia Thompson |
| Parent(s) | John Rae and Margaret Glen Campbell |
| Awards |
Royal Geographical Society Founder's Gold Medal (1852) |
| Signature | |
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Royal Geographical Society Founder's Gold Medal (1852)
John Rae (Inuktitut Aglooka ᐊᒡᓘᑲ English: "long strider") (30 September 1813 – 22 July 1893) was a Scottish surgeon who explored parts of northern Canada, found the final portion of the Northwest Passage (Rae Strait, named after him) and reported the fate of the Franklin Expedition. In 1846–47 he explored the Gulf of Boothia northwest of Hudson Bay. In 1848–51 he explored the Arctic coast near Victoria Island. In 1854 he went from Boothia to the Arctic coast and learned the fate of Franklin. He was noted for physical stamina, skill at hunting and boat handling, use of native methods and the ability to travel long distances with little equipment while living off the land.
Rae was born at the Hall of Clestrain in the parish of Orphir in Orkney, Scotland. After studying medicine in Edinburgh, he graduated with a degree from the University of Edinburgh and was licensed by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh – he went to work for the Hudson's Bay Company as a surgeon, accepting a post at Moose Factory, Ontario, where he remained for ten years.
Whilst working for the company, treating both European and indigenous employees of the company, Rae became known for his prodigious stamina and skilled use of snow shoes. He learned to live off the land like a native and working with the local craftsmen, designed his own snow shoes. This knowledge allowed him to travel great distances with little equipment and few followers, unlike many other explorers of the Victorian Age.
In 1836–39 Thomas Simpson sailed along much of the north coast of Canada. Sir George Simpson proposed to link Thomas Simpson's furthest east by sending an overland expedition from Hudson Bay. Rae was chosen because of his well-known skill in overland travel. Rae first had to travel to the Red River Colony to learn the art of surveying. On 20 August 1844 Rae left Moose Factory, went up the Missinaibi River and took the usual voyageur route west. When he reached the Red River Colony on 9 October he found his instructor seriously ill. After the man died he headed for Sault Saint Marie to find another instructor. The two-month, 1,200 mile winter journey was by dog sled along the north shore of Lake Superior. From there Sir George told him to go to Toronto to study under J. H. LeFroy at the Magnetic Observatory. Returning from Toronto, he received final instructions at Sault Sainte Marie. He left on 5 August 1845 and took the usual voyageur route via Lake Winnipeg and reached York Factory on 8 October, where he wintered. On 12 June 1846 he headed north in two 22-foot boats and reached Repulse Bay in July. The local Inuit told him that there was salt water to the northwest, so he chose this as his base.
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