Narrative of a voyage to the Polar sea during 1875-76

Click on the numbers above to view two pages from the book.

George S. Nares. Narrative of a voyage to the Polar sea during 1875-76. 3rd edition. London, 1878.

The British Arctic Expedition of 1875-76 was inspired by the lingering belief in an open Arctic sea around the pole. Sailing north through Smith Sound, Nares expedition was the first to reach the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, where they wintered, setting a furthest north record for a ship up to that time. The following spring sledge parties travelled further north, taking two small boats with them in case they found open water. One of the sledge parties set a furthest north record of 83° 20'. However, the expedition was cut short because of scurvy.

Alert, the northernmost settlement in the world, located where the Nares expedition wintered, is named for his ship.