Frederick William Beechey


Beechey, Frederick William
Frederick William Beechey, naval officer, artist, explorer (b at London, Eng 17 Feb 1796; d there 29 Nov 1856). Beechey joined the British navy at the age of 10, and saw action at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. In 1818 he served as second in command of the Trent, under (later Sir) John FRANKLIN, in a search for the NORTHWEST PASSAGE.

In 1819-20 he served under W.E. PARRY in the Hecla on a voyage of discovery to the eastern Arctic, spending the winter in Winter Harbour, Melville Island, where he made scientific observations and sketches of the terrain. Prince Regent Inlet, Barrow Strait, Wellington Channel and the Parry Islands were discovered on this expedition.

From 1825 to 1827 he commanded a voyage of exploration to the western Arctic. He rose to the rank of rear-admiral and was the president of the Royal Geographical Society. Beechey Lake (on Back River, NWT), Beechey Point (in Alaska) and Cape Beechey (on Ellesmere Island) are named for him; Beechey Island (NWT) is named for his father.

Author W.R. MORRISON

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