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Entry TypePerson
SurnameParry
ForenamesWilliam Edward
TitleSir
Epithetnaval officer and Arctic explorer
Dates1790-1855
Gender IdentityMale
HistoryHe entered the navy in 1803; he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1810; he was appointed commander of the Alexander in John Ross's Arctic expedition in 1818, and then commander of the Hecla in command of another expedition to find the North West Passage, 1819-1820, during which he made great progress, discovering several islands including Melville Island and the Parry Islands (named after himself) and almost making it through to the Beaufort Sea; he commanded another expedition on the Fury, with the Hecla under George Lyon, discovering the two straits which took the ships' names, 1821-1823; he took command as captain of the Hecla in another expedition 1824-1825; he attempted to reach the North Pole in 1827, again in the Hecla, but failed, albeit having reached the highest altitiude then achieved; he was knighted in 1829; he took part in no further expeditions, but was much involved as a member of the Arctic Council in planning the search for Sir John Franklin; he was captain-superintendent of the Haslar Royal Naval Hospital from 1846 to 1853 and then lieutenant-governor of the Royal Hospital 1853-1855.
RelationshipsParry married twice, first in 1826 to Isabella Louisa (1801-1839), with whom he had two daughters and two sons, and then in 1841 to Catherine Edwards (1808-1896), with whom he had two twin daughters and a son.
Key EventsBorn at Bath, 19 Dec 1790; died at Ems, Germany, 8 July 1855
SourceOxford Dictionary of National Biography online
Authorised Form of NameParry; William Edward (1790-1855); Sir; naval officer and Arctic explorer

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