Harry Goodsir and the last Franklin Expedition, of 1845

Journal of Medical Biography

Volumn 12, Issue 2, 2004, Pages 82-89

  Kaufman, Matthew H ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ANATOMY; ARCTIC; ART; ARTICLE; HISTORY; TRAVEL; UNITED KINGDOM;

ANATOMY; ARCTIC REGIONS; EXPEDITIONS; GREAT BRITAIN; HISTORY, 19TH CENTURY; PORTRAITS;

EID: 3242660203     PISSN: 09677720     EISSN: 17581087     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/096777200401200207     Document Type: Article

References (54)

1. Turner W, ed. The Anatomical Memoirs of John Goodsir F.R.S. with a Biographical Memoir by Henry Lonsdale, M.D. (2 vols, vol. I, Biography). Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1868: vol. I, p. 9. See also: Anonymous. John Goodsir. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 1867–8;16:14-16.
2. According to Lonsdale, he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, although his name does not appear in its list of medical graduates. See: List of the Graduates in Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, from MDCCV to MDCCCLXVI. Edinburgh: Neill & Co., 1867; Turner W (The Anatomical Memoirs of John Goodsir F.R.S. with a Biographical Memoir by Henry Lonsdale, M.D. ref. 1): pp. 7–10. He matriculated in 1768–9 and 1769–70, but did not graduate with the Edinburgh MD degree. He obtained the LRCS Edinburgh diploma on 3 September 1770. He was the eldest surviving son of James Goodsir and Janet Fernie.
3. His full name was Joseph Taylor Goodsir. See: Scott H. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. Vol. V. Synods of Fife, and of Angus and Mearns. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1925 (new edn): p. 220. He was ordained on 17 August 1843, and resigned on 27 November 1850 on the grounds that: “the standards of the Church were not consistent with the Teaching of Scripture”. He died unmarried on 27 April 1893, a prolific author on theological issues. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1860 on the recommendation of Sir William Turner.
4. As Professor John Goodsir, the oldest of the five sons of John Goodsir, was named after his father (or grandfather), it appears that Harry, whose full name was Henry Duncan Spens Goodsir, was named after one of his father's brothers. Peterkin and Johnston noted that Henry Duncan Spens Goodsir, his father's oldest brother, entered the Army Medical Service as an assistant surgeon in September 1803: “2270. Henry Duncan Goodsir. Assistant Surgeon, 82nd Regiment of Foot, 17 September 1803; Surgeon, Sicilian Regiment, 20 December 1810; 89th Regiment of Foot, 28 March 1811: retired on half-pay 25 Jan 1817. Name shown on Army List in 1819 for the last time.” See: Peterkin A Johnston W. Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army 1660–1960 (2 vols). London: Wellcome Historical Medical Library, 1968: vol. I, p. 149. He matriculated in the University of Edinburgh in 1794–5, 1795–6 and 1796–7, but did not graduate. He died on 18 March 1818. See: “Notice of death” in Goodsir papers. Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections, Box Gen. 305. While he was christened Henry Duncan Spens Goodsir, he was commonly referred to as “Harry”, for example in correspondence between his father and his son. See: Goodsir papers, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections, Box Gen. 305.
5. Turner W (Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army 1660–1960 ref. 1): p. 10.
6. ”Notice of death” in Goodsir papers ((Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army 1660–1960 ref. 1) ref. 4).
7. Goodsir John (1814–1867), F.R.S. In: Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1959–60: vol. VIII, pp. 137–9, at p. 138. He obtained his FRCS Edinburgh diploma in 1848. See also: Heppell D. Goodsir, John. In: Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1972: vol. V, pp. 469–71.
8. Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Act of Parliament (13th Victoria, Chap. XXIII.) for Enabling Her Majesty to Grant a New Charter to the College; Also, Royal Warrant for a New Charter, Dated 11 March 1851; Together with Chronological Lists of Members and Fellows, of Presidents and of Honorary Fellows, from the earliest record (August 1581) to the date of the Charter. Edinburgh: printed for the Royal College of Surgeons, by Robert Hardie and Co., 1851: supplement, “List of Licentiates, from 1 January 1815 to 1 January 1859”.
9. This is the only place so far located where Harry's full Christian names are listed. Elsewhere he is listed as “Mr Harry D. S. Goodsir”, for example in John Goodsir's obituary notice in the Edinburgh Medical Journal, and in the index to Gray's History of the Royal Medical Society, or more usually simply referred to as “Harry Goodsir”. See: Anonymous. The late John Goodsir, Professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Medical Journal 1867;12 (part 2):959–62, at p. 960; Gray J. History of the Royal Medical Society 1737–1937. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1952: p. 340.
10. List of the Graduates in Medicine (Edinburgh Medical Journal ref. 2).
11. Turner W ((Edinburgh Medical Journal ref. 2) ref. 1): p. 109.
12. The British Medical Directory for England, Scotland, and Wales. London: published at the offices of the Lancet and the British Medical Directory, 1853. Robert matriculated in the University of Edinburgh in 1845–6, 1846–7, 1847–8 and 1848–9, but graduated with the MD degree from the University of St Andrews in 1852. On his tombstone in the Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh is the following inscription: “Arctic explorer who in 1849 sailed in the ship Advice in search of Franklin Expedition and again in 1850”. He was born in 1823 and died in 1895.
13. Gray J (The British Medical Directory for England, Scotland, and Wales ref. 9): p. 162.
14. Gray J ((The British Medical Directory for England, Scotland, and Wales ref. 9) ref. 9): p. 320.
15. Gray J (((The British Medical Directory for England, Scotland, and Wales ref. 9) ref. 9) ref. 9): p. 162.
16. Cresswell CH The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Historical Notes from 1505 to 1905. Edinburgh and London: Oliver & Boyd, privately printed for the College, 1926: p. 85.
17. Clair R.W. Wright-St. Doctors Monro: A Medical Saga. London: Wellcome Historical Medical Library, 1964: pp. 107–8. See also: Wright-St Clair RE. Sir David Monro, MD (1813–1877), of New Zealand: his antecedents and his descendants. Journal of Medical Biography 2004;11:32-7.
18. Struthers J. Alexander Monro tertius. In: Historical Sketch of the Edinburgh Anatomical School. Edinburgh: Maclachlan and Stewart, 1867: pp. 34–7, at p. 37.
19. Goodsir J. On the origin and development of the pulps and sacs of the human teeth. Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal 1839;138:1–38.
20. Comrie J. History of Scottish Medicine (2nd edn, 2 vols). London: Baillière, Tindall and Cox, 1932: vol. II, p. 619.
21. Turner W (History of Scottish Medicine ref. 1): p. 109.
22. The College minutes (16 May 1843, p. 448) recorded “perfect satisfaction with the great ability, faithfulness, and zeal with which that Gentleman [i.e. John Goodsir] has discharged the duties of Conservator of the Museum, and they beg to direct the attention of Members to the very great and manifest improvement which the Collection had undergone since it was placed in Mr Goodsir's charge”.
23. Tansey V Mekie DEC The Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Part 4). Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 1980;25:481–4.
24. He was appointed Conservator of the College Museum in April 1841, and resigned in May 1843, when appointed Curator of part of the university's Anatomical Museum. He was also appointed university demonstrator in anatomy to Monro tertius during the following year, and in 1845 was appointed Curator of the entire Anatomical Museum. See: Turner W (Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh ref. 1): p. 138. According to Balfour, he succeeded Mr William Mackenzie as Monro's demonstrator. See: Balfour JH. Obituary notice of Professor John Goodsir. Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 1866–7;9 (11-page pamphlet).
25. Balfour JH (Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh): p. 4.
26. Harry Goodsir was recommended for the post of Conservator by his brother John. “The Curators of the Museum reported their unanimous recommendation of Mr Henry Goodsir to be Conservator of the Museum, they being fully satisfied of that Gentlemans [sic] ample qualifications for the Office.” See: College minutes, 1838–46, pp. 458–9. On 1 August 1843, “Mr John Goodsir has continued to act as Conservator up to this date; but Mr Henry Goodsir will henceforward perform the duties of the Office”. See: College minutes, 1838–46, pp. 466–7.
27. According to the College minutes, Harry resigned as Conservator “in consequence of his having been appointed Medical Officer and Naturalist to the expedition now fitting out to the Arctic seas. As his absence would only be temporary, he was willing that the College should either accept of his resignation or give him leave of absence for the time.” See: College minutes, 1838–46, p. 602. In a subsequent note, the minutes (16 April 1845, p. 614) state that Mr Goodsir “has withdrawn that part of [his letter] relative to obtaining leave of absence, thereby limiting its terms to a simple resignation”.
28. According to the College minutes (2 August 1845, p. 648): “The work of the Museum has been carried out in the same efficient manner as hitherto by Mr Goodsir's younger brother [i.e. Archibald] under the superintendence of Mr John Goodsir”.
29. Tansey V Mekie DEC (Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh ref. 23): p. 482.
30. Goodsir J Goodsir HDS Anatomical and Pathological Observations. Edinburgh: Myles Macphail; London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Company, 1845.
31. The material supplied by Harry is therefore as follows: chapter 6, “The testis and its secretion in the decapodous crustaceans” (pp. 35–40); chapter 12, “The mode of reproduction of the lost parts in the Crustacea” (pp. 74–8); and chapter 13, “Of the anatomy and development of the Cystic Entozoa” (pp. 79–103). According to a footnote, the material published in Chapter 13 had previously been read before the York meeting of the British Association in 1844.
32. Turner W (“The testis and its secretion in the decapodous crustaceans” ref. 1): p. 138.
33. See: Virchow R. Die Cellularpathologie in ihrer Begründung auf physiologie und pathologische Gewebelehre. Berlin: Verlag von August Hirschwald, 1858. Neither the first nor second German editions in Edinburgh University Library possesses a dedication to Goodsir. See also: Virchow R. Cellular Pathology as Based Upon Physiological and Pathological Histology. Translated from the second edition of the original, by F Chance. London: J Churchill, 1860. This has the dedication to Goodsir, as indicated in the main text.
34. Tansey V Mekie DEC (Die Cellularpathologie in ihrer Begründung auf physiologie und pathologische Gewebelehre ref. 23): pp. 481–2.
35. Mr Playfair “considered the work had been taken off his hands when the College appointed Young and French to make an annual Report directly to themselves on the state of the buildings, and that if that annual investigation had been properly made, the present evil ought to have been noticed earlier”. He also noted that “a thorough repair would be necessary and that any half measures would be of no avail if it was wished to eradicate the evil”. See: College minutes, 20 June 1844, pp. 524–5.
36. The Committee in charge of the repairs to the hall buildings enquired of Mr Playfair “whether in his opinion the rot in the timbers was in any way connected with the depth of the earth around the sides of the building”. See: College minutes, 2 October 1844, pp. 562–3.
37. As a consequence of this decision the College recommended that the services of the door-keeper would no longer be required. The Curators indicated that this would reduce the control over the visitors. It was later noted that the door-keeper had been reinstated. See: College minutes, 10 December 1844, p. 589.
38. “The Curators are of opinion that the salary should not be less than £125, thus allowing £100 to the Conservator of clear income, with £25 to be employed on Assistants.” See: College minutes, 15 June 1843, p. 455. In a subsequent note in relation to the reduction in Harry Goodsir's salary, it is noted that “he [i.e. Harry Goodsir] stated his willingness to continue in his Office for the present at the proposed reduced salary of £100, that sum being also inclusive of the allowance made to his Assistant”. See: College minutes, 2 October 1844, p. 561.
39. Turner W ((Die Cellularpathologie in ihrer Begründung auf physiologie und pathologische Gewebelehre ref. 23) ref. 1): p. 101. Four medical officers were associated with the expedition: Stephen Stanley (surgeon) and Harry Goodsir (assistant surgeon) on the Erebus, and John Peddie (surgeon) and Alexander MacDonald (assistant surgeon) on the Terror.
40. Franklin J. Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819, 20, 21, and 22. With Appendices by Various Authors. London: John Murray, 1823.
41. Goodsir RA An Arctic Voyage to Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound, in Search of Friends with Sir John Franklin. London: John Van Voorst, 1850.
42. An Arctic Voyage to Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound, in Search of Friends with Sir John Franklin.: p. 124.
43. An Arctic Voyage to Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound, in Search of Friends with Sir John Franklin.: pp. 98–9.
44. Brown J. The North-West Passage, and the Plans for the Search for Sir John Franklin. A Review, with Maps, &c. 2nd Edition, with a Sequel, including Voyage of the “Fox”. London: E Stanford, 1860: p. 444.
45. This steam yacht had been purchased and funded by Lady Franklin, with some support from the Admiralty and additional funding from a public appeal. This expedition was undertaken principally from her own funds because pleas to the British government to support another expedition had largely gone unheeded.
46. See: Brown J (This expedition was undertaken principally from her own funds because pleas to the British government to support another expedition had largely gone unheeded. ref. 44): pp. 19–20 of the Sequel. A sum of £5000 was awarded to Sir F L McClintock and the officer and crew of the Fox, from the civil service estimates for their part in establishing the fate of Sir John Franklin and his expedition. This document is now located at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
47. See, for example: Seeman B. Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald during the years 1845–51, under the Command of Captain Henry Kellett, R.N., C.B. being a Circumnavigation of the Globe, and three cruizes to the Arctic Regions in Search of Sir John Franklin (2 vols). London: Reeve and Co., 1853. See also: Lamb GF. Franklin — Happy Voyager — Being the Life and Death of Sir John Franklin. London: Ernest Benn, 1956.
48. Cookman S. Ice Blink: The Tragic Fate of Sir John Franklin's Lost Polar Expedition. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2000: pp. 174–85. While an extremely useful and up-to-date source of information, this is written in the most sensational and journalistic of terms, and in parts is extremely speculative.
49. Kowal W Beattie OB Baadsgaard H Krahn PM Source identification of lead found in tissues of sailors from the Franklin arctic expedition of 1845. Journal of Archaeological Science 1991;18:193–203.
50. Beattie O Geiger J. Frozen in Time. London: Bloomsbury, 1987.
51. Cookman S (Frozen in Time ref. 48): pp. 116–33, 144–53, 174–85, 213–20.
52. For a recent brief review of the medical factors that probably led to the death of all members of the Franklin Expedition, see: Bayliss R. Sir John Franklin's last arctic expedition: A medical disaster. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2002;95:151–3.
53. See, for example: Hammond N (archaeology correspondent). The Times, 7 May 1991, p. 16, cols 4–6, item entitled “Victorian Arctic team ‘died of lead poisoning’” Hawkes N (science editor). The Times, 30 August 1993, p. 6, cols 7–8, item entitled “Arctic explorers died close to help” Goodwin S. Independent, 12 June 1997, p. 13, cols 1–7, item entitled “Was Britain's greatest Arctic explorer a victim of cannibals?” The Sunday Times, 30 April 2000, p. 13, cols 1–2, item entitled “Cut-price canned food killed off Arctic explorers”. Mr K L G Mills, of Aberdeen, an authority on the Franklin Expedition, recently delivered a lecture on this topic to the Senior Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It does not appear to have been published.
54. Lamb GF (The Times ref. 47): figure 14, opposite p. 273.