DNA Identifies Captain Fitzjames from Franklin Expedition

Recent research has identified the remains of Captain James Fitzjames, a member of Sir John Franklin's ill-fated 1845 expedition, as the first confirmed victim of cannibalism among the crew. The expedition, which aimed to find a navigable Northwest Passage, resulted in the deaths of all 129 crew members after the ships HMS Terror and HMS Erebus became trapped in ice. DNA and genealogical analysis linked a molar found on King William Island to Fitzjames, revealing cut marks indicative of cannibalism. This finding highlights the extreme desperation faced by the crew, who resorted to cannibalism regardless of rank. Prior accounts from Inuit communities had suggested cannibalistic behavior among the crew, which was later supported by archaeological evidence. The study underscores the dire conditions and the tragic end of the expedition, which remains one of the greatest disasters in British polar exploration history.