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Sir John Franklin was descended from a respectable Lincolnshire family, who occupied a small estate for several years in that county. In consequence of the improvidence of his grandfather, Sir John's father was obliged to enter into business, in which he was so successful as to have been enabled to give his sons a good education. One, Sir Willingham Franklin, rose to the rank of a Chief Justice of Madras; another, Major Franklin, of the Bengal Cavalry, was distinguished for his scientific geographical knowledge, which obtained for him the Fellowship of this Society.
The fourth son, the subject of this notice, who was born at Spilsby in Lincolnshire in 1786, was intended for the Church, but while still at school, he took advantage of a holiday to run from Louth to the coast for the purpose of seeing the ocean, on which it is stated he gazed for hours with wonder and delight. His father, who was extremely desirous that his son should not follow the profession of a sailor, for which he manifested the strongest partiality, conceived that by sending the boy in a small merchant-ship to Lisbon, the discomforts of the voyage would effectually cure him of his love for the sea; but in the case of young Franklin, as in many others, this expedient had a totally different effect, so that being evidently bent on a maritime career, he was entered as midshipman on board the 'Polyphemus' in 1800, and was in that ship at the battle of Copenhagen. On this occasion he escaped without a wound, while a brother midshipman was killed at his side. He next sailed with his maternal cousin Captain Flinders on his celebrated voyage of discovery to Australia, during which he acquired most of that skill and knowledge which was of infinite value to him in after-life.
In the course of this survey he had the misfortune to be wrecked with his commander on a coral reef in August 1803, and by his conduct during seasons of great hardship gained the praise and esteem of his superior officers.
Franklin next acted under Captain Dance in the 'Earl Camden,' and had charge of the signals during the celebrated engagement in the Straits of Malacca, with the French Admiral Linois.
On his return to England he was appointed to the 'Bellerophon,' Captain Loring, in which ship he had the honour of acting as signal midshipman in the memorable battle of Trafalgar; a post of great
