William O'Byrne's huge naval biographical dictionary (1849). John Barrow helped O'Byrne gain access to Admiralty papers and before publication asked to see only one biography in advance... that of his "esteemed & gallant friend" James Fitzjames. #NavalHistory

Fitzjames lecture in Abbots Langley, 11 July! My second lecture this year is in Fitzjames' home village, where I'll talk more about his childhood and family. It's in person only this time. Would be great to see you all there! Tickets can be ordered here: www.ticketsource.com/abbots-langl...

On 21 May 1836, Fitzjames' uncle Robert Coningham died & on that same day, Fitzjames almost died in a storm that wrecked one of the Steamers of the Euphrates Expedition. A poem about this sad event was published in 1840, of which I'm happy to have a copy. #NavalHistory #19thC

I'm researching the Franklin Search Expeditions & Sophia Cracroft's journals contain interesting anecdotes. Such as Horatio Austin doing the equivalent of drunk texting in 1851. [My transcription] #NavalHistory

Printed books.❤️ (E-books are great for word searching, though.) #research

New FitzNewsletter, about my Royal Geographical Society talk and some recent archival exploration stories: #NavalHistory #19thC jamesfitzjames.substack.com/p/fitznewsle...

On 27 April, I gave a talk about my research at the Royal Geographical Society. The room was sold out and so lovely to meet/talk to people! You can watch a recording of my talk. #NavalHistory #Arctic www.rgs.org/events/talks...

Two weeks from now! 🥳 #NavalHistory

Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier, Consul General: "Everything in Brazil is sooo expensive, I can barely survive here!! 😭" Other people: "Sir James Gambier's house & style of living surpasses that of any other person in Rio de Janeiro." 🤡

Another very interesting addition to my collection. Georgiana, Lady Chatterton's biography of her uncle Admiral Lord Gambier, which she presented to a Sir Edward with a long letter written at Smedmore, the house which has a portrait of Sir James Gambier (Fitzjames' father). #NavalHistory

Finally had a chance to visit Sherard Osborn's grave. He's in a pretty prestigious spot at Highgate. Earlier this week I saw this new to me photo of him, aged 41. [The National Archives] He died at only age 54. He was so much like Fitzjames (Sophia Cracroft agrees with me)! #NavalHistory #19thC

One of Fitzjames' childhood homes. Not too shabby! The Manor House in Abbots Langley was unfortunately demolished in 1953. #Hertfordshire #19thC

Jeremy Irons rocking up to The National Archives with his dogs, love it. His research assistants! [2006, Who Do You Think You Are UK]

Fitzjames' paternal grandfather, who died long before he was born, did not have the best reputation... #mybook #navalhistory

James Fitzjames mystery man of the Franklin Expedition? Gosh, if only there were hundreds of letters from which we could learn all about him. If only they were available. Oh wait, they have been available since 1970. (I've read & typed them all out, one day they'll all be published!) #NavalHistory

HMS St Vincent in John Barrow's 1882 journal. Fitzjames served on this ship 50 years earlier. #NavalHistory

Updated my 2021 article with pictures of the muster of HMS Excellent and Edward Couch' service record: he did NOT serve with Fitzjames before and it's all based on Fitzjames biographer Battersby confusing Couch with someone else. #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition jamesfitzjames.com/edward-couch...

Sir Leopold McClintock, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton all in one photo in 1901! On the deck of the ship Discovery.[From the book 'Face to Face: Polar Portraits', 2008] #NavalHistory

Sir James Gambier skilfully steers a ship called Fanny. #mybook #NavalHistory

Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier being difficult in Brazil... [From my Fitzjames biography that I am writing right now]

I created & wrote a Wikipedia biography for Fitzjames' close friend & Admiralty clerk John Barrow, who was one of the loveliest men to ever live. Can't believe he didn't have a Wiki yet! I can add more info after my article & books are published. #NavalHistory en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...

Very excited to announce my talk at the @rgsibg.bsky.social !! 27 April, both in person and online. 🥳 #NavalHistory www.rgs.org/events/upcom...

I bought it here, only $22/€19! 2 left in stock, go get 'em. www.amazon.com/Awe-Arctic-V...

'The Awe of The Arctic', a beautifully illustrated book about the 2024 exhibition at the New York Public Library that I sadly didn't get to see. Including a letter from HMS Erebus' Surgeon Stephen Stanley! Well worth getting this book. #Arctic #NavalHistory

A new addition to the shelf: Sir John Ross' head! Thank you Anatomical Museum Edinburgh for sharing a 3D printable file of this object. Wonder if I'm the first one to actually have it printed... I don't think it's a death mask, it says Feb. [18]21 on the back.

Some 19th century nautical books to the right and a 19th century spyglass. I told the antiques seller that I will bring the latter with me to the Arctic when/if I get to go there. #mybookshelf

Very happy to have a presentation copy of John Barrow's 1845 book about the Elizabethan Navy. He signed it to Lord Albert Conyngham whose bookplate is inside. Some of the pages are uncut, so Conyngham never read the entire book. [My collection] #19thC #NavalHistory

Admiralty wax seal on the envelope of an 1852 letter from John Barrow. Pretty! [British Library] #NavalHistory

I love Rear Admiral Sir John Ross' signature. [John Ross to John Brown, 20 February 1850, British Library] #Arctic #NavalHistory

When I order items at archives I don't always know what I'll get. Sometimes it's a box full of disintegrating letters & documents and you have to just gently unfold them all. Info about Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier somewhere in there! [The National Archives]

John Barrow's (1808-1898) journals span 30 years & consist of almost 60 (BIG) volumes. I will read every single page. After 2 years I'm about halfway through. It's incredible to be able to read about every day of his life & to get to know him so well. He wanted to be remembered. #19thC #research

My first archive visit of 2026 is to Oxford University, reading more journals of John Barrow Jr., Fitzjames' close friend & a friend to all Franklin Expedition searchers. He's so dear to me. These are some of my notes of today.😄 #19thC #research #NavalHistory

PROMISCUOUS LETTERS. (It just means various letters but it still makes me laugh.) #research

Merry Christmas from the Euphrates Expedition! 🥲🎄 [3rd in command James Bucknall Estcourt to his father, 26 December 1835. Gloucestershire Archives] #19thC

Sagæus/Sakeouse, a West Greenland Inuk who first visited Scotland in 1816 because he was curious about the wider world. He later joined Sir John Ross' 1818 Arctic expedition as interpreter & draughtsman. [National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh] #Arctic #Inuit

Common mistake (I also got it wrong in the beginning): You either say HMS Erebus or the Erebus. It's never "the HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship)". [Image not of Erebus, but ships drawn by Secret FitzUncle.] #NavalHistory

Never had a view this stunning from an archive's window. Spent a few days at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, photographing letters from Rear Admiral Sherard Osborn to his publisher Blackwood. I plan to write Osborn's biography.

"Soothing to Old Maids & Bachelors" John Barrow shares an interesting article, with statistics of the state of English marriages. "Those who are really happy: 6." JB feeling vindicated that he never married. [JB's journal, 17 April 1879] #19thC

Obtained a lithograph of my favourite Sir John Ross portrait, of him all cosy by a fire and no doubt scheming about something or other. [By Daniel Maclise aka Alfred Croquis, first published in Fraser's Magazine 1834.] #NavalHistory

The 'Aurora Borealis' newspaper by the crew of Franklin Expedition Search vessel HMS Assistance, on display at the Queen's House, National Maritime Museum Greenwich. In the header is shown Erebus and Terror and a sort of sea goddess version of Lady Franklin. #NavalHistory #Arctic

HANDSOMEST MEN IN THE NAVY. William Edward Parry and John Ross. [National Maritime Museum Greenwich] #NavalHistory

Jail for whoever colourised this photo, Fitzjames was a GINGER. Sigh, the paperback that should never have been. Buy the original hardback if you want to read Battersby's Fitzbio. Or just wait for my infinitely more accurate one! 🙃 #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition

FINALLY I CAN START WRITING THE FITZBIO. Studied as many primary sources as I possibly could, now have some secondary sources left to read, but after 4.5 years I can finally begin to write that book. And then there's the Letters Book, too.... #NavalHistory #excited!

I gave a talk on polar explorer Frederick Cook at the Shackleton Autumn School. Here it is in written form, including some more text and visual material that I didn't get to include because of limited time: fabtet.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...

The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, details of a 1806 painting by Louis-Philippe Crépin. The British flag is in the water and Nelson has just been shot. In this painting, you'd think the French were winning... [Musee de la Marine, Paris] #NavalHistory

On 15 October 1859, the Illustrated Times published this image of some of the Franklin Expedition relics found by McClintock's expedition. [My collection] #NavalHistory #Arctic

Euphrates Expedition, 30 September 1836: steaming into Baghdad with gay flags. [Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory

John Barrow raises an important point in 1878 that the Titanic people also should've thought of: more lifeboats! [JB's journal]

"Thus most fortunately ends our voyage to Busheer, which as a Naval man I think was rather to hastily decided upon, but "Allhamdulilla" every [thing] turns up for the best." Learning the local language! [June 1836, Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory

Euphrates Expedition, April 1836: Fitzjames was made captain of some useless flatboat which according to every expectation broke and sank with all of their luggage. 🥲 Thank you, Colonel Chesney... [Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory