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Why did 24 of 129 men die aboard Erebus and Terror before April 1848, when other Arctic expeditions lost few?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crewsAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

The death rate before the desertion is what turned a hard voyage into a catastrophe, and it is far higher than on comparable expeditions that stayed longer⁠[1]. Each explanation predicts something measurable in the remains.

Answers 4

Evidence: 2 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
Evidence: 2 for, 1 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Kowal et al. puts forward: lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.
  2. Kowal et al.: lead isotope ratios in Beechey Island sailors matched the solder of the expedition's tins.For: Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.
  3. Keenleyside et al. puts forward: scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews.
  4. Keenleyside et al.: high lead levels in the Erebus Bay bones.For: Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.
  5. Keenleyside et al.: signs of scurvy in the Erebus Bay remains.For: Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews.
  6. Millar & Bowman: thumbnail element series of a Beechey sailor bears on his nutrition in his last months.For: Scurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews.
  7. Swanston et al.: lead was similar at Beechey and King William Island, not markedly raised near death, and not high relative to…Against: Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.
  8. Park & Stenton puts forward: something particular to these ships (provisions, conditions, disease) rather than the Arctic itself caused…
  9. Park & Stenton: mortality on other contemporary Arctic expeditions matched Royal Navy rates worldwide.For: Something particular to these ships (provisions, conditions, disease) rather than the Arctic itself caused…
  10. Asked on this site
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