Back, George

In 1808 he entered the Royal Navy serving in HMS Arethusa. (He was captured by the French during a cutting-out operation at Deba with HMS Arethusa's small boats in 1809.

He was transported to Verdun where as a prisoner of war he studied mathematics, French and drawing. In the winter of 1813-14 he walked to reach England.).

He was appointed as Midshipman in HMS Akbar, serving against the French in North America. HMS Akbar was dismasted in a hurricane off Cpae Hatteras and nearly foundered.

In 1817 he was appointed as an admiralty Mate in HMS Bulwark.

In 1818 he volunteered for service in HMS Trent as Mate (under Captain Franklin) to Spitzbergen. On his retun he returned to HMS Bulwark.

He joined Franklin on his land expedition to the Coppermine River to determine the latitude and longitude of the northern coast of North America and the trend of the coast east of the Coppermine. At Fort Enterprise he was sent back to For Providence and nearly starved along the way.

He covered 1,204 miles on snowshoes.

In 1822, on his return to England he was cmmissioned as a Lieutenant RN.

In 1823 he was appointed to HMS Superb sailed to the West Indies. While in Lisbon he was invited to join Franklin's expedition to the HMCS Mackenzie River.

In 1827 he was promoted to Commander RN but he could not find a ship.

He traveled to Italy to improve his knowledge of the arts. While in Naples he heard that Captain Ross had been ‘lost' and offered to the Royal Geographical Society to search for him. In February 1833 he set out with Dr. Richard King as surgeon naturalist.

In 1836-37 he commanded HMS Terror on a cruise into Hudson Bay.

He served on the Arctic Council overseeing the search for Franklin.

He was knighted in 1839 and he was promoted Admiral in 1876.

Back River (aka Great Fish River) (NT); Cape Back (NU); Point Back; Back Point (Smith Sound); Back Inlet (coast of Zichy land);

Captain Franklin (in his narrative) stated: "Here we met Mr. Black, to whom, under Providence, we felt our lives were owing." King William IV said to him "You and I, Sir, are the only two Captains by order in council in the navy."