George Mecham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Mecham
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| Birth name | George Frederick Mecham |
| Born | 14 November 1827 Cove of Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 17 February 1858 (aged 30) Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaiʻi |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Service years | 1841–1858 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Commands held |
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George Frederick Mecham (born November 14, 1827 – died February 17, 1858) was a brave Irish naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his part in the important search for Franklin's lost expedition, a famous group of explorers who disappeared in the Arctic.
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Life of George Mecham
George Frederick Mecham was born in 1827 in a place called Cove of Cork in Ireland. When he was just 14 years old, in 1841, he joined the Royal Navy. This was the main navy of the United Kingdom. He worked hard and was promoted to a rank called lieutenant on March 8, 1849.
Searching for Franklin's Lost Expedition
From 1850 to 1854, Lieutenant Mecham was part of a big search. He was looking for Sir John Franklin and his crew, who had vanished while exploring the Arctic. He served on two ships during this time: Assistance and Resolute. These ships were led by other famous explorers, Erasmus Ommanney and Henry Kellett.
Discoveries and Promotions
In 1853, Mecham made an exciting discovery! He was the first European to find and map two new islands: Prince Patrick Island and Eglinton Island. He charted, or mapped, these islands in the spring of that year. His hard work paid off. On October 21, 1854, he was promoted again, this time to Commander.
Later Commands and Death
As a Commander, Mecham led two different ships. From 1855 to 1857, he commanded the paddle sloop HMS Salamander off the west coast of Africa. A paddle sloop was a type of ship that used large paddles to move through the water. After that, in 1857, he commanded the paddle sloop HMS Vixen in the Pacific Ocean.
Sadly, George Mecham died on February 17, 1858, in Honolulu. He passed away from bronchitis, a sickness that affects the lungs.
