Robert Hood (explorer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Hood
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| Born | 1797 Portarlington, Ireland |
| Died | 21 October 1821 (aged 23–24) near Lake Providence, Northwest Territories |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Service years | 1809–1821 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Lieutenant Robert Hood (1797–1821) was an explorer and artist from Ireland. He served as an officer in the Royal Navy, which is the United Kingdom's navy. Hood is best known for his important work exploring the cold Canadian Arctic region.
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Who Was Robert Hood?
Robert Hood was born in Portarlington, Ireland, in 1797. He joined the Royal Navy when he was young and became an officer. Besides his naval duties, Hood was also a talented artist. He used his artistic skills to draw and paint the new places and things he saw during his explorations.
Exploring the Arctic
In 1819, Robert Hood joined a big adventure called the Coppermine expedition. This trip was meant to explore parts of the Canadian Arctic. Hood was a midshipman on this journey, which is a rank for a junior officer in the navy. He worked alongside another artist, George Back, to record everything they saw.
The Coppermine Expedition
The Coppermine expedition was led by John Franklin. Its goal was to map the northern coast of Canada and find the Northwest Passage, a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The journey was very difficult, with harsh weather and little food.
Art and Science on the Journey
During the expedition, Robert Hood created many beautiful watercolour paintings. These paintings helped to show what the Arctic looked like and what the explorers experienced. He also kept a detailed journal. This journal was so good that John Franklin used it to help write the official story of the expedition.
Hood was also a keen scientist. He carefully wrote down information about the weather, Earth's magnetic field, and the Aurora Borealis. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, are amazing colorful lights in the sky. Robert Hood was the first person to suggest that these lights might be connected to electricity and magnetism. This was a very important scientific idea for his time!
A Life Cut Short
Sadly, Robert Hood passed away during the Coppermine expedition on October 21, 1821. He was near Lake Providence in the Northwest Territories. News of his promotion to lieutenant reached the expedition later that year, after his death.
See also
