Jackson-Harmsworth Expedition 1894-97
Frederick George Jackson, the leader of the Jackson-Harmsworth
Expedition of 1894–1897, accomplished a great deal during his
exploration of Franz Josef Land [Zemlya Frantsa-Iosifa] although his
achievements have never been fully acknowledged. Jackson's expedition
itself has often been eclipsed by his famous meeting in 1896 with
Fridtjof Nansen, absent for 3 years in the Arctic and it has been
unfairly coloured by the view that Jackson was no more than an
adventurer and sportsman.
Jackson developed a strong exploration
model that was based on comprehensive planning, a significant concern
for the health and welfare of his companions, the willingness to
innovate in a number of activities including sledging, and a commitment
to scientific discovery. Although the expedition did not find a route to
the North Pole, Jackson confirmed that Franz Josef Land was an
archipelago and he gave credence to the consumption of fresh meat as a
means of preventing scurvy. One of Jackson's legacies to subsequent
explorers was the use of ponies for haulage.
