Kane, Elisha Kent, 1820-1857
Dates
- Existence: 1820 - 1857
Biography
Elisha Kent Kane (February 3, 1820 – February 16, 1857) was a United States Navy medical officer and Arctic explorer. He served as assistant surgeon during Caleb Cushing's journey to China to negotiate the Treaty of Wangxia and in the Africa Squadron. He was assigned as a special envoy to the United States Army during the Mexican–American War and as a surveyor in the U.S. Coast Survey.
He was senior medical officer in the First Grinnell expedition to rescue or discover the fate of the explorer Sir John Franklin. He was credited with the discovery of an encampment and gravesite from Franklin's lost expedition on Beechey Island. He led the Second Grinnell expedition to the Arctic which was unsuccessful in discovering the fate of Franklin's expedition. His explorations of the Arctic went further North than any other expeditions at the time and led to the eventual path to the North Pole taken by subsequent explorers.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Samuel Francis DuPont letter
Two-page letter from Samuel Francis Dupont in Washington DC to Harry Ingersoll in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, discussing arrangements for a government expedition to search for Elisha Kane Kent.
Sherard Osborn letter
Four-page letter from Sherard Osborn in London to Lady Jane Franklin, discussing non-return of Elisha Kent Kane from the Arctic and the method and cost of a rescue mission.