DNA reveals identities of four lost Franklin expedition sailors after 178 years

Canadian researchers have identified four more sailors from the doomed 1845 Franklin expedition. Using genetic analysis, they matched DNA from skeletal remains to living descendants of the crew. Their findings were published in Polar Record and the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports on 6 May 2026. The two ships, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, became trapped in ice near King William Island in 1846. After two years, the surviving sailors abandoned the vessels in 1848 and set out on foot in search of rescue.

One of the newly identified sailors is Harry Peglar, a crew member from the HMS Terror. Researchers confirmed his identity by comparing DNA from his remains with samples provided by his living relatives. The other three sailors were from the HMS Erebus, though their names have not yet been disclosed.

The team used advanced genetic techniques to analyse skeletal remains recovered from the Arctic. By matching these samples with descendants, they successfully identified the four men. The discoveries add to the understanding of the Franklin expedition’s fate. The research confirms the locations where some crew members perished after leaving the ships. The findings were reported by The Canadian Press and detailed in two academic journals.