Franklin disappeared on his last expedition; attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. The icebound ships were abandoned and the entire crew perished from starvation; hypothermia; tuberculosis; lead poisoning and scurvy.

In September 2014; the Prime Minister of Canada; Stephen Harper; announced that the wreck of HMS Erebus; one of the two ships from Franklin's final voyage; had been rediscovered.

On 12 September 2016; it was announced that the Arctic Research Foundation expedition had found the wreck of HMS Terror south of King William Island in Terror Bay and in 'pristine' condition.