Invitation card to a ball on HMS Erebus and HMS Terror

This card invited Eleanor Franklin, to a ball held on HMS Erebus and HMS Terror on 1 June 1841. Eleanor was the sixteen year old daughter of Sir John Franklin, Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen’s Land (modern Tasmania).

Between 1840 and 1843, Erebus and Terror were on an exploratory expedition to Antarctica. After their first season of exploration, they wintered in Van Diemen’s Land in 1841 and held this ball as one of their entertainments.

Sir John Franklin was recalled to Britain two years later and in 1845 he captained an expedition to attempt to discover the North West Passage. He and Captain Crozier sailed on HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, but this time the expedition ended in tragedy, with the loss of both ships and the crew of 129 men.