HMS Terror: The Design Fitting and Voyages of a Polar Discovery Ship

Honourable Mention in the Canadian Nautical Research Society Book Awards

This book documents the history, design, modification, and fitting of HMS Terror, one of the world’s most successful polar exploration vessels. Part historical narrative and part technical design manual, this book provides, for the first time, a complete account of Terror’s unique career, as well as an assessment of her sailing abilities in polar conditions, a record of her design specifications, and a full set of accurate plans of her final 1845 configuration. It is an ideal reference for those interested in the Franklin Mystery, in polar exploration, the Royal Navy, and in ship design and modelling.

Matthew Betts is an internationally recognized expert on Sir John Franklin’s ships, and is an active consultant with Parks Canada, which discovered the wrecks of the Erebus and Terror. He has contributed to major documentaries on the expedition and recently acted as an historical advisor for the first season of AMC’s major historical drama, The Terror. His model and plans of HMS Terror have been showcased in exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum, the Canadian Museum of History, and Mystic Seaport Museum. Dr. Betts is currently a curator of archaeology at the Canadian Museum of History.