McClure, Robert John Le Mesurier, Sir, 1807-1873

Robert John Le Mesurier McClure (M'Clure) was born on 28 January 1807 in Wexford, Ireland. He was educated at Eton College and Sandhurst before entering the Navy in 1824. He first travelled to the Canadian Arctic when he served as mate in HMS Terror on the British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1836-1837 (leader George Back), instructed by the Admiralty to complete the survey of the north coast of Canada. The expedition was abandoned after Terror became frozen in the ice in Foxe Channel and was badly damaged. Promoted lieutenant in 1838, McClure served on the Canadian Lakes, on the West India Station and from 1842 until 1846, commanded Romney , a receiving ship at Havana. He spent the following two years on coast guard duty.

In 1848, McClure returned north as first lieutenant in HMS Enterprise on the British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1848-1849 (leader James Clark Ross), sent in company with HMS Investigator to search for Franklin's missing expedition along the shores of Lancaster Sound, Barrow Strait, Wellington Channel and Prince Regent Inlet. The two vessels entered Lancaster Sound but were soon frozen in and further searches had to be conducted by sledge. McClure, who spent a month on the sick list, took no part, returning with the expedition to England with no information about Franklin.

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