1786-1847, naval officer; Arctic explorer, British; English

1800 - joined the Polyphemus as a first-class volunteer in the Royal Navy.

1805 - saw action at the battle of Trafalgar aboard the Bellerophon.

1808 - promoted to lieutenant.

1814 - sailed for New Orleans aboard the Bedford.

1818 - as captain of the small brig, Trent, set off under Commander John Buchan, aiming to cross the Arctic Ocean, searching for the North-West Passage. This expedition failed.

1819 - set off in search of the North-West Passage again, starting from Hudson Bay.

1822 - after three years of hardship and privation, returned to London a hero.

1826 - another Arctic expedition mounted leaving from New York.

1830 - given command of the frigate Rainbow, and stationed in the Mediterranean during the Greek War of Independence.

1836 - offered and accepted the lieutenant-governorship of Van Diemen's Land.

1843 - left Hobart following an unsuccessful and at worst disastrous appointment.

1845 - offered to lead an expedition to sail the final 300 mile stretch of the north-West Passage.

1852 - promoted to rear-admiral

1859 - died in June.