In 1850, the HMS Investigator, led by Captain Robert McClure, set out for the Arctic. Their orders were to find and rescue – if possible – the members of the Lost Franklin Expedition.
What was to follow was an extraordinary tale that saw the men of the expedition winter through the Arctic winter for four years. They endured countless hardships – including death, disease and starvation – and would come home as the first people to ever complete the Northwest Passage.
For Glory, Not Gold Giveaway – Now Closed
The Explorers Podcast, along with Flammarion, the publishers of For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1876 by Hubert Sagnières, are doing a giveaway of a copy of this amazing book to two of our listeners.
Also, the winners – if desired – can attend the book’s launch in New York City on Oct. 17, 2025, at the famed Explorer’s Club. There, they can meet the book’s creators.
For Glory, Not Gold takes readers along on ten daring nineteenth-century expeditions through firsthand accounts and striking archival images.
This exceptional volume showcases ten major international arctic expeditions carried out between 1818 and 1875, tracing the journeys of intrepid explorers from the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France.
The beautifully produced and oversize volume features illustrations, engravings, maps, and rare documents from the author’s personal collection of rare books and source material.
Author Hubert Sagnières is passionate about history and travel. He has amassed a unique collection of books, travel journals, drawings, and maps relating to the adventures of both famous and lesser-known explorers.
THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.
For Glory, Not Gold is a beautiful, one-of-kind book that is perfect for anyone who loves great stories and explorers. It will be available this fall in bookstores and online.
Episodes
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 1 – Into the Arctic
In part 1 of our series, we look at the history of the search for the Northwest Passage, and the Lost Franklin Expedition. We then follow Captain Robert McClure as he leads the Investigator into the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in 1850.
Download this episode or listen online.
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 2 – The Parry Channel and Mercy Bay
In part 2 of our series, the HMS Investigator explores the areas around Banks Island and Victoria Island, before sailing into the Parry Channel – the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. They will end the year at Mercy Bay – a place the ship will never leave.
Download this episode or listen online.
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 3 – Across the Passage
The HMS Investigator fights to survive two winters at Mercy Bay as the physical and mental health of the crew slowly starts to deteriorate. A desperate journey overland is planned – but the crew are saved by the arrival of men from the east – from the HMS Resolute.
Download this episode or listen online.
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 4 – The Passage Conquered
Captain Robert McClure and the men of the Investigator work to complete their crossing of the Northwest Passage – albeit via three ships and two sledge journeys. Plus we look at the aftermath of the expedition – and its legacy.
Download this episode or listen online.
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 5 – A conversation with Hubert Sagnières
As a follow up to the Investigator series, we interviewed Hubert Sagnières – the author of “For Glory, Not Gold.” We talk about a wide range of topics, including the Investigator, exploration in general, his inspirations, and plans for the future. It is a nice way to wrap up our series.
Download this episode or listen online.
Maps
(Click on map for a larger image)
Map from For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1876 by Hubert Sagnières.
Resources
For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1876 by Hubert Sagnières
The Ice Passage: A True Story of Ambition, Disaster, and Endurance in the Arctic Wilderness, by Brian Payton. A nicely done, detailed look at the McClure Expedition.
The Discovery of the North-West Passage by H.M.S. Investigator, Capt. R. McClure, during the years 1850–1854, by Robert McClure. McClure was the captain of the Investigator. McClure’s book glosses over many of the more contentious moments of the expedition.
A Personal Narrative of the North-West Passage, by Sir Alexander Armstrong. Armstrong was the expedition’s chief surgeon, and wrote detailed, honest and – at times – scathing account of the expedition.
Frozen Ships: The Arctic Diary of Johann Miertsching 1850-1854, by Johann Miertsching. Miertsching was a German missionary, and the expedition’s interpreter on board. He wrote an honest diary about his time in the Arctic.
Video from Parks Canada showing the HMS Investigator, which was found in 2010.
Wikipedia links
Explorers Podcast 