James Fitzjames

It will be in your hands in the near future! 🥳

James Fitzjames mystery man of the Franklin Expedition? Gosh, if only there were hundreds of letters from which we could learn all about him. If only they were available. Oh wait, they have been available since 1970. (I've read & typed them all out, one day they'll all be published!) #NavalHistory

Congrats, that's so cool!

HMS St Vincent in John Barrow's 1882 journal. Fitzjames served on this ship 50 years earlier. #NavalHistory

Oh no, I actually use Grammarly as a spelling/grammar checker only (I can write my own lines) but ugh.... Gotta find an alternative.

Edward Couch / Crouch A case of mistaken identity that continues to be repeated Daguerreotype by Richard Beard, taken May 1845. Colourised by Ross Day. By Fabiënne Tetteroo25 September 2021 [edited 29 July 2022 and 19 F…

Updated my 2021 article with pictures of the muster of HMS Excellent and Edward Couch' service record: he did NOT serve with Fitzjames before and it's all based on Fitzjames biographer Battersby confusing Couch with someone else. #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition
jamesfitzjames.com/edward-couch...

He appears to be looking at Scott's Royal Victorian Order medal. He did not approve? 😂

It's such a wonderful photo, Sir Leopold being the link between 19th century polar exploration and the 20th century. That lady looks so happy, I wonder who she is!

Sir Leopold McClintock, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton all in one photo in 1901! On the deck of the ship Discovery.[From the book 'Face to Face: Polar Portraits', 2008] #NavalHistory

It's Fitzjames' father! Those Gambiers are all called James, haha. Fitzjames' father was in the Navy too for a few years but then switched to the army. And then became a consul later.

Sir James Gambier skilfully steers a ship called Fanny. #mybook #NavalHistory

Before they could return to Rio de Janeiro, Sir James detained the expedition for 15 days by purchasing a huge tree situated on a mountaintop in an almost inaccessible part of the forest, which had to be cut down and somehow transported to the ship. While May entertained himself by exploring the region and admiring crafts such as canoe-making and ceramics, he observed Sir James’ tree project with only a little faith in its success:

Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier being difficult in Brazil... [From my Fitzjames biography that I am writing right now]

John Barrow (civil servant) - Wikipedia

I created & wrote a Wikipedia biography for Fitzjames' close friend & Admiralty clerk John Barrow, who was one of the loveliest men to ever live. Can't believe he didn't have a Wiki yet! I can add more info after my article & books are published. #NavalHistory
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...

Thank you, I'm so excited to speak at the RGS! Aaaah! I think my talk will be recorded and posted on their website later, but hope you get to watch live. ❤️

Thank you! Got a few more talks coming up this year, all without having a book to sell yet but working on that. 😅

Very excited to announce my talk at the @rgsibg.bsky.social !! 27 April, both in person and online. 🥳 #NavalHistory
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...

Wincing with you.😭 People who say 'the HMS' clearly don't know their naval terminology.

Will probably be some time until I read the essays, I've got so many other things to read. But I think this is an essential book for polar fans, even if just for the images.

I bought it here, only $22/€19!
2 left in stock, go get 'em.
www.amazon.com/Awe-Arctic-V...

The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History [Cronin, Elizabeth, Denlinger, Elizabeth C., Fowler, Ian, Golia, Julie, Horbal, Bogdan, Keister, Jessica, Kiely, Declan D., Mustard, Maggie, Reidy, Brent, Scruggs, Dalila, Triplett, Kyle R., Viljoen, Madeleine, Vissers, Joseph, Walz, Emily] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History

I bought it here! Very low price:
www.amazon.com/Awe-Arctic-V...

These are the contents. The essay about Stanley's letter repeatedly says 'the HMS' 🥲. I look forward to reading all the essays.

'The Awe of The Arctic', a beautifully illustrated book about the 2024 exhibition at the New York Public Library that I sadly didn't get to see. Including a letter from HMS Erebus' Surgeon Stephen Stanley! Well worth getting this book. #Arctic #NavalHistory

www.myminifactory.com/users/Anatom... They also have John Rae and John Franklin! I'm going to have them printed some other time.

A new addition to the shelf: Sir John Ross' head! Thank you Anatomical Museum Edinburgh for sharing a 3D printable file of this object. Wonder if I'm the first one to actually have it printed... I don't think it's a death mask, it says Feb. [18]21 on the back.

McCormick is like a cat, killing all the birds and proudly bringing the bodies to his boss. 😂

Yeah, it's a big brick! But really nice to have a physical copy.

Haha, that's a great anecdote!

Thank you! 😄

Some 19th century nautical books to the right and a 19th century spyglass. I told the antiques seller that I will bring the latter with me to the Arctic when/if I get to go there. #mybookshelf

Thank you! Even though it's just a short inscription and it has passed through many hands since, I still love that John Barrow (junior!) once touched this book & signed it. 😄 Indeed very cool!