A Brief History of the North West Passage

by Rae Collins

The realization that there is most likely to be a North West Passage from Greenland, across the top of Canada has intrigued explorers for well over 40 years.

This concept grew in the late 15th century with the voyages of John and Sebastian Cabot, who made the first recorded landfalls on the North American continent since the Norse voyages of the 11th century. The Cabots established that a passage through or round America would be necessary if the dream to find a short route to get to the ‘treasures’ of the Orient was realized.

Since then many explorers have attempted to find this elusive passage. Along the way many landmarks, rivers and other geographical features have been charted and named after these people.

Exploring, in particular in such extreme conditions as these, was not without its stories. The explorations are dotted with tales of mutinies, abandonments, political interventions, including wars, and illness.

Between 1576 and 1631 there was much explorative activity, when areas such as the Hudson and Baffin Bays were discovered.

Fro the next 100 years or so, apart from some fur trading there was very little activity in the area. Some people, including Captain James Cook, visited but were blocked by Ice.
About this time, the British Admiralty, in particular John Barrow, took a major part in organizing future expeditions, as it felt threatened by Russian interests in the area.
Then in 1818, John Ross rediscovered Baffin Bay, and the dream of a possible passage was rekindled.

Much surveying was completed during this time, and while the actual passage was never discovered, there was enough proof to establish that such a passage existed.

The adventures of these people are outlined by Glyn Williams in his book Voyages of delusion: the Northwest Passage in the Age of Reason.

Probably the most notable Explorer in the 1800’s was John Franklin, who made two extensive land exhibitions and one by sea. The purpose of his last voyage was to prove for once and for all, that there definitely was a North West Passage. However tragedy struck when his ships became ice bound over most fierce winters, he and many of his crew became ill and died, while others perished trying to find a way out. The fascinating story of this disaster, including the ominous events leading to it, are outlined in a very good book “Ice Blink” by Scott Cookman.

In spite of all the explorations and charting of the area, everyone who attempted the navigation was turned back by ice.

The Passage would not be successfully navigated until the twentieth century when, in 1903-06, Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian, made the full transit by sea in the Gjöa. Even though he was the first to make the voyage, he always acknowledged the work of the British Explorers who made the feat possible.