Cracroft, Sophia, 1816-1892

Epithet: niece of Sir J Franklin

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000561.0x0001f2

Sophia Cracroft accompanied her aunt, Lady Jane Franklin, on a trip to Sitka in 1870 on the vessel Newbern, to search for her husband Sir John Franklin's lost expedition.

From the description of Journal kept during trip to Alaska by Sophia Cracroft, 1870 May 12 to June 14. (Alaska State Library). WorldCat record id: 42067470

Sophia (Sophy) Cracroft was born in 1816, the eldest daughter of Isabella Franklin and Thomas Cracroft and niece of the Arctic explorer, John Franklin. In 1836, she accompanied John Franklin and his second wife, Jane, to Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] after Franklin had accepted the post of lieutenant governor, later returning to Britain in 1844. After the death of John Franklin on the British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1845-1848, Sophia continued to accompany Jane Franklin on her travels, visiting Alaska, the United States, Hawaii, Canada, South America, China, Japan, India and Europe. She died on 20 June 1892.

From the guide to the Sophia Cracroft collection, 1843-1875, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)