John Torrington, English soldier and explorer (b. 1825)
John Shaw Torrington (1825—1 January 1846) was a Royal Navy stoker. He was part of the 1845 Franklin Expedition to chart unexplored areas of what is now Nunavut, Canada, find the Northwest Passage, and make scientific observations. He was the first fatality of the expedition, of which all personnel ultimately died, mostly in and around King William Island. Torrington was buried on Beechey Island. His body was exhumed by forensic anthropologist Owen Beattie in 1984, to try to determine the cause of death. His remains are among the best preserved example of a corpse since the ancient Tollund Man which was found in the 1950s. Photographs of his mummified remains were widely published and inspired music and literature.
1846Jan, 1
John Torrington
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Events on 1846
- 11May
Mexican-American War
President James K. Polk asked for a Declaration of War against Mexico, starting the Mexican-American War. It is approved on May 13. - 7Jul
Conquest of California
American troops occupy Monterey and Yerba Buena, thus beginning the conquest of California. - 10Sep
Sewing machine
Elias Howe is granted a patent for the sewing machine. - 24Sep
Zachary Taylor
Mexican-American War: General Zachary Taylor captures Monterrey. - 16Oct
Ether Dome
William T. G. Morton first demonstrated ether anesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the Ether Dome.