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Four more sailors on doomed 1845 Arctic expedition identified using DNA analysis
DNA matches with living descendants confirmed the identities of four sailors from the doomed Franklin Expedition, including the long-disputed remains of Harry Peglar.
- On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, University of Waterloo researchers announced they definitively identified four sailors from the Franklin Expedition using genetic analysis, settling a debate lasting over a century regarding the tragic 1845 Arctic voyage.
- British Navy explorer Francis Leopold McClintock found papers belonging to Harry Peglar, a petty officer aboard the HMS Terror, in 1859 near a skeleton wearing an incorrect uniform, creating a mystery researchers resolved this week.
- Three additional sailors from the HMS Erebus—William Orren, David Young, and John Bridgens—were identified by comparing mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA from remains with samples from living descendants.
- "The loss of life on this expedition was unprecedented," University of Waterloo anthropologist Douglas Stenton told CBC. BBC journalist Rich Preston, a descendant, provided DNA that matched, advancing the research.
- Stenton said the team continues searching for living descendants to identify more remains uncovered over the last century. These genetic findings connect past and present, offering new insights into the 1845 Arctic tragedy.
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19 Articles
The Toronto Star+16 Reposted by 16 other sources
Four more sailors on doomed 1845 Arctic expedition identified using DNA analysis
Canadian researchers of the 1845 Franklin expedition say they have used genetic analysis to identify four more members of the doomed Arctic voyage.
·Toronto, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left13Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution72% Left
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources lean Left
72% Left
L 72%
C 28%
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