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Ross (SIR JAMES CLARK an English)

SIR JAMES CLARK, an English Arctic and Antarctic explorer; born in London, England, April 15, 1800. He entered the British navy at the age of 12, accompanied his uncle, Sir John Ross, on his two voyages in search of a N. W. passage, and in the interval between them accompanied Capt. William Parry in his three Arctic voyages. He was promoted to the rank of post-captain in 1834, par- ROSS ticularly for the discovery of the North magnetic pole in 1831. He commanded the expedition in the "Erebus" and "Terror" to the Antarctic Ocean in 1839- 1843; and on his return published a narrative of that voyage, which had contributed largely to geographical and scientific knowledge generally. Captain Ross was knighted for his services, and received numerous other honors. In 1848 he made a voyage in the "Enterprise" to Baffin Bay in search of Sir John Franklin. He died in Aylesbury, England, April 3, 1862.