In 1839 the British Antarctic Expedition, comprising the ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, sailed from London under the command of James Clark Ross to explore the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Ross had vast experience in Arctic exploration and in 1831 was the first to reach the north magnetic pole. The purpose of the Expedition was to conduct studies in terrestrial magnetism in the southern hemisphere (including on specific dates in tandem with observers in other places) and determine the location of the south magnetic pole. Other scientific programs included meteorological, physical and oceanographic observations (the latter principally of surface and sub-surface temperature readings and depth soundings). Biological and geological collections were to be made whenever possible. During the Expedition's first visit to Hobart Town, Ross and Governor John Franklin established the Rossbank Observatory: Joseph McKay (Lt, HMS Terror) remained to direct the operations of the Observatory. In addition, Ross, Joseph Hooker and several other expedition members participated in the scientific life of the colony and contributed papers to the fledgling Tasmanian journal of natural science.
The Expedition's magnetic program was considered highly successful. Other major achievements included the discovery of the Ross Sea and its ice shelf, and Victorian Land; charting c. 500 miles of coast in this region; the approximate determination of the south magnetic pole; and finding active volcanos in Antarctica (Mts Erebus and Terror). Significant collections were made of botanical, algal, zoological and geological specimens. The principal publications resulting from the Expedition were Ross's Journal (1847), and Hooker's floras of Antarctica, Tasmania and New Zealand (1844 - 1859).
Expedition members included, on HMS Erebus: Robert McCormick, Surgeon (responsible for zoology and geology); Joseph Hooker, Assistant Surgeon (responsible for botany); on HMS Terror; Lt Alexander Smith: Francis Crozier, captain; Lt Joseph W. Kay; Lt Archibald McMurdo (commemorated in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica); John Robertson, surgeon (responsible for zoology and geology); David Lyall, Assistant Surgeon (responsible for botany).
19 September 1839
19 September 1839
Event - Departed from Chatham, United Kingdom
16 August 1840
12 November 1840
Event - At Hobart Town, Van Diemens Land
6 April 1841
7 July 1841
Event - At Hobart Town, Van Diemens Land
14 July 1841
5 August 1841
Event - At Port Jackson, New South Wales
18 August 1841
23 November 1841
Event - At Bay of Islands, New Zealand
4 September 1843
Event - Arrived at Folkestone, United Kingdom