The Royal Navy in Polar Exploration from Frobisher to Ross

The need for polar exploration began in 1492 when, in his search for a route to the Orient, Columbus stumbled into a huge land barrier. By the 16th century, the Royal Navy had begun a series of assaults on the seemingly impregnable frozen Arctic fortress. This first volume covers expeditions from the 16th century up to James Ross’s 1842 voyage to the Antarctic. Within this timespan lie the explorations of Byron, Cook, Vancouver, Hearn, Franklin, Beechey, John and James Ross, Parry, and others.