Robert McClure

1807 – 1873

Vice-Admiral Sir Robert John Le Mesurier McClure was an Irish-born British naval officer and Arctic explorer who, in 1854, completed the first traversal of the Northwest Passage by ship and sledge. He and his crew were trapped for nearly two years in the polar ice aboard HMS Investigator before being rescued in one of the most arduous expeditions in the history of Arctic exploration. He was knighted on his return and shared the Royal Geographical Society's Founder's Medal for the achievement.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM