DNA Reveals Identities of Franklin Expedition Sailors After 166 Years

September 10, 2026

Scientists have identified four more members of the ill-fated Franklin expedition using DNA from living descendants, including Harry Peglar whose identity was unknown for over a century and a half.

The Franklin expedition ventured into the Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage but faced extreme conditions that led to their tragic demise. The new findings shed light on the sailors' resilience and the harsh realities they encountered.

This breakthrough not only resolves historical mysteries but also underscores the ongoing impact of extreme cold environments, as represented by crit_winter_loss, on human survival and exploration efforts.

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DNA solves the mystery of a body found in the Arctic in 1859

Scientists have used DNA from living descendants to identify four more members of the doomed Franklin expedition, including Harry Peglar, whose identity had remained uncertain for 166 years. The findings offer new clues about the sailors who survived for years in the Arctic before joining the expedition’s ultimately fatal escape attempt.