Lady Jane Franklin

1792 - 1875

Jane Franklin was the second wife of Sir John Franklin, married on Nov. 5th, 1828. Before marrying, she often accompanied her father, John Griffin of Bedford, on journeys in both England and on the continent. Once married, she travelled to Asia, meeting up with her frigate-commander husband, as well as to Australia and New Zealand. He husband was appointed the lieutenant-governership of Van Diemen's Land, and Jane worked for the welfare of female convicts and all of the labouring population there.

Concern for her husband, after he went exploring and was not heard from again, sparked her to initiate a search on 1848 by offering a £2000 reward. She sent out, at her own expense, five ships before one, the Fox, brought official news of the lost expedition in 1859. In 1860, the National Geographic Society awarded her their founder's medal for her dedication to the search. She continued to travel the world, and in 1875 she outfitted the Pandora, which was to attempt the North-West passage of which her husband had gone in search. She died on July 18th of that year before she could learn of the ship's failure.

The d'Israeli's and the Griffin's were old friends, having been members of the same book club for years. Because of the familial contact, Jane felt she could ask Benjamin Disraeli for Parliamentary support in her search for her lost husband.

Benjamin and Jane were not close friends (she disapproved of his changing the spelling of his name); however, he did speak on her behalf in Parliament.