Editing Clements Markham (section)

== Royal Navy ==

=== Naval cadet, 1844–1850 ===
[[File:HMS Collingwood (1841).jpg|thumb|{{HMS|Collingwood|1841|2}}, Markham's first ship]]
In May 1844, Markham was introduced by his aunt, the Countess of Mansfield, to Rear Admiral Sir [[George Seymour (Royal Navy officer)|George Seymour]], a [[Lord of the Admiralty]]. The boy made a favourable impression on the admiral, and the meeting led to the offer of a cadetship in the [[Royal Navy]]. Accordingly, on 28&nbsp;June 1844, Markham travelled to [[Portsmouth]] to join Seymour's flagship, {{HMS|Collingwood|1841|6}}. ''Collingwood'' was being fitted out for an extended voyage to the Pacific Ocean where Seymour was to assume command of the Pacific station.<ref>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;17–26.</ref> This tour of duty lasted for almost four years. The ship reached the Chilean port of [[Valparaíso]], the headquarters of the Pacific station on 15&nbsp;December 1844, after a cruise that incorporated visits to [[Rio de Janeiro]] and the [[Falkland Islands]], and a stormy passage in the [[Southern Ocean]].<ref name= AHM28/> Markham's social connections assured him of a relatively comfortable time; he was frequently invited to dine with the admiral, whose wife and daughters were on board.<ref name= AHM28>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;28–35.</ref>

[[File:CadetMarkham.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|Markham as a naval cadet in 1844, aged 14]]
After a few weeks' respite in Valparaiso, ''Collingwood'' sailed again, this time for [[Callao]], the main port on the Peruvian coast, giving Markham his first experience of a country that would figure prominently in his later career.<ref>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;38–47.</ref> During the next two years ''Collingwood'' cruised in the Pacific, visiting the [[Sandwich Islands]], Mexico, and [[Tahiti]], where Markham attempted to assist the nationalist rebels against their French governor.<ref>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;64–69.</ref> On 25&nbsp;June 1846, Markham passed the examination for [[midshipman]], being placed third in a group of ten. The long periods spent in Chilean and Peruvian ports had also enabled him to learn Spanish.<ref name = Baigent/>

Towards the end of the voyage, Markham experienced growing doubts about a conventional naval career; he now desired above all to be an explorer and a geographer. On arrival in Portsmouth in July 1848 he informed his father of his wish to leave the navy, but was persuaded to stay.<ref>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;97–99.</ref> After a brief period of service in the Mediterranean Markham experienced months of inactivity while based at [[Spithead]] and the [[Cobh|Cove of Cork]], which further diminished his interest in the service.<ref>A. Markham, p.&nbsp;106.</ref> However, early in 1850, he learned that a squadron of four ships was being assembled to undertake a new search for the lost Arctic expedition of Sir [[John Franklin]].<ref>Coleman, p.&nbsp;51.</ref> Markham used his family's influence to secure a place in this venture, and in April 1850, was informed of his appointment to {{HMS|Assistance|1850|6}}, one of the squadron's two principal vessels.<ref>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;108–109.</ref>

=== First Arctic voyage, 1850–1851 ===
{{Main|Franklin's lost expedition}}
Sir [[John Franklin]] had left England in May 1845 with two ships, {{HMS|Erebus|1826|6}} and {{HMS|Terror|1813|6}}, in search of the [[Northwest Passage]] between the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific]] Oceans. The expedition was last seen on 29&nbsp;July, by [[whaling|whalers]] in the northern waters of [[Baffin Bay]], moored to an [[Drift ice|ice floe]] and waiting for the chance to sail westward.<ref>Coleman, p.&nbsp;19.</ref>

The hunt for the missing ships began two years later. The relief squadron which Markham joined was commanded by Captain [[Horatio Austin]] in {{HMS|Resolute|1850|6}}. Markham's ship ''Assistance'' was captained by [[Erasmus Ommanney]].<ref>Coleman, pp.&nbsp;51–52.</ref> Markham, as the youngest member of the expedition and its only midshipman, had a limited role, but carefully noted every detail of expedition life in his journal. The ships sailed on 4&nbsp;May 1850.<ref>A. Markham, p.&nbsp;119.</ref>

[[File:BeecheyIsland Graves.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|A modern photograph of the graves discovered at [[Beechey Island]] in 1850]]
After rounding the southernmost point of Greenland on 28&nbsp;May, the squadron proceeded northwards until stopped by ice in [[Melville Bay]] on 25&nbsp;June.<ref name= Coleman54>Coleman, pp.&nbsp;54–58.</ref> They were held here until 18&nbsp;August, when they were finally able to proceed west into [[Lancaster Sound]], the known route taken by Franklin. Here the ships dispersed to search different areas for signs of the vanished expedition. On 23&nbsp;August, Ommanney sighted a [[cairn]], and discovered packing materials nearby which bore the name of "Goldner", Franklin's canned meat supplier. Together with other odds and ends of abandoned equipment, these fragments were the first traces of Franklin that anyone had found.<ref name= Coleman54/> A few days later, on [[Beechey Island]], the party came across three graves, which proved to be those of members of Franklin's crew who had died between January and April 1846.<ref name= Coleman54/>

Searches continued until the ships were laid up for the long Arctic winter. During this enforced rest there were lectures and classes for the crew, and various theatrical diversions in which Markham was able to display his "great histrionic talent".<ref name= AHM119/> He did much reading, mainly Arctic history and classical literature, and thought about a possible return visit to Peru, a country which had captivated him during the ''Collingwood'' voyage.<ref name=AHM119>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;119–123.</ref> When spring returned, a series of sledging expeditions was launched to search for further signs of the missing crews. Markham played a full part in these activities,<ref>Described by Clements Markham in ''The Lands of Silence'', pp.&nbsp;255–260.</ref> which produced no further evidence of Franklin, but led to the mapping of hundreds of miles of previously uncharted coast.<ref>Coleman, pp.&nbsp;63–68.</ref> The expedition returned to England in early October 1851.<ref>Coleman, p.&nbsp;73.</ref>

Immediately on his return to England, Markham informed his father of his determination to leave the navy. One of the reasons for his disaffection was the severity of the corporal punishment that was constantly administered for what in his view were trivial offences. He had been in trouble during his ''Collingwood'' service for attempting to prevent the flogging of a crewman.<ref name= AHM49>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;49–51.</ref> He had also become disenchanted by the idleness that had occupied long periods of his service. With some regret the elder Markham consented to his son's request, and after taking and passing the gunnery part of the examination for the rank of lieutenant, Markham resigned from the service at the end of 1851.<ref name= AHM127>A. Markham, pp.&nbsp;127–131.</ref>