GB 0402 SGB - BACK, Sir George (1796-1878)

2 boxes, 1 outsized folder and 1 framed letter

GB 0402 SGB 1814-1878 Collection (fonds) 2 boxes, 1 outsized folder and 1 framed letter Back , Sir , George , 1796-1878 , Knight , Arctic navigator , Admiral

Born, 1796; entered the navy as midshipman, 1808; taken prisoner by the French at Deba, 1808; midshipman to the Akbar, 1814; Admiralty mate of the Bulwark, 1817; volunteered for service in the Trent, under Sir John Franklin, who was then entering on the first modern voyage of discovery in the Spitsbergen seas, 1818; expedition with Franklin by land to the Coppermine River,1819-1821; appointed to the Superb, 1823; join Franklin's expedition to the Mackenzie River, 1824-1826; expedition to find Captain Ross, 1833-1835; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1836-1878; Vice President and member of the RGS Council; RGS Gold Medallist - Royal award, 1835; commander of an expedition to complete the coast line between Regent's Inlet and Cape Turnagain, 1836; President of the Raleigh Club, 1844; Fellow of the Royal Society, 1847; employed by government to report on the harbour of Holyhead; died, 1878.

The Back collection of letters are on indefinite loan from Mrs A W Holmes on behalf of John Pares.

Papers of Sir George Back, 1814-1878, including c. 250 letters addressed to Sir George Back by various correspondents (listed by name), 1848-1878; personal letters from Back to his family, 1813-1878; photocopies of extracts from Back's sketchbook and slides of his sketches from 1819-1822 expedition to Arctic; passports and framed letter with sketches of polar bear, 1874.

Incoming letters are filed alphabetically. Back's letters are filed chronologically.

Open by appointment only, subject to completion of application form. Non-Fellows require a letter of reference.

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.
English and French. Passports in German, French Italian and Arabic.

Some items are fragile. Quality of photocopies and slides is poor.

The RGS archives: a handlist compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977.

Photocopies and slides taken from originals held by descendant of Back.

RGS Archives - Correspondence Blocks 1830-1833, 1834-1840, 1841-1850, 1851-1860, 1861-1870, 1871-1880 (includes copy of Back's will). Jnl. Mss. Arctic 1837(2) and 1854.

Prepared by David Tatham, Archives Volunteer using existing finding aids, DNB entry, PRGS [NS] Vol. I. Revised by Sarah Drewery. ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA. 11 July 2000; Nov 2008. Animals Arctic Arctic Ocean Armed forces Back , Sir , George , 1796-1878 , Knight , Admiral and Arctic navigator Biology Canada Climatic zones Drawings Geographical exploration Geography International relations Mammals Military organizations Naval personnel North America Ocean exploration Oceanographic research Oceanography Oceans Organizations Polar regions State security Visual materials Zoology Illustrations Vertebrates Organisms

The Back collection of letters are on indefinite loan from Mrs A W Holmes on behalf of John Pares.

Papers of Sir George Back, 1814-1878, including c. 250 letters addressed to Sir George Back by various correspondents (listed by name), 1848-1878; personal letters from Back to his family, 1813-1878; photocopies of extracts from Back's sketchbook and slides of his sketches from 1819-1822 expedition to Arctic; passports and framed letter with sketches of polar bear, 1874.

Incoming letters are filed alphabetically. Back's letters are filed chronologically.

Open by appointment only, subject to completion of application form. Non-Fellows require a letter of reference.

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

• English

• Latin

English and French. Passports in German, French Italian and Arabic.

RGS Archives - Correspondence Blocks 1830-1833, 1834-1840, 1841-1850, 1851-1860, 1861-1870, 1871-1880 (includes copy of Back's will). Jnl. Mss. Arctic 1837(2) and 1854.

The RGS archives: a handlist compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977.

ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA.

• English