James Fitzjames
@captjamesfitzjames.bsky.social
Captain James Fitzjames RN (1813-1848?) research by Fabiënne Tetteroo MA / jamesfitzjames.com / BA Art History+MA Naval History / Collector of ephemera
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So many new followers, hello! I'm a historian writing a new biography of Captain Fitzjames of Franklin Expedition fame, debunking the many misconceptions about him & providing exciting new information. Here I'll post about my research & my 19th century collection.
Sir Leopold McClintock, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton all in one photo in 1901! On the deck of the ship Discovery.[From the book 'Face to Face: Polar Portraits', 2008] #NavalHistory
February 13, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Sir Leopold McClintock, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton all in one photo in 1901! On the deck of the ship Discovery.[From the book 'Face to Face: Polar Portraits', 2008] #NavalHistory
Sir James Gambier skilfully steers a ship called Fanny. #mybook #NavalHistory
February 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Sir James Gambier skilfully steers a ship called Fanny. #mybook #NavalHistory
Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier being difficult in Brazil... [From my Fitzjames biography that I am writing right now]
February 11, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier being difficult in Brazil... [From my Fitzjames biography that I am writing right now]
I created & wrote a Wikipedia biography for Fitzjames' close friend & Admiralty clerk John Barrow, who was one of the loveliest men to ever live. Can't believe he didn't have a Wiki yet! I can add more info after my article & books are published. #NavalHistory
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...
John Barrow (civil servant) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I created & wrote a Wikipedia biography for Fitzjames' close friend & Admiralty clerk John Barrow, who was one of the loveliest men to ever live. Can't believe he didn't have a Wiki yet! I can add more info after my article & books are published. #NavalHistory
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ba...
Very excited to announce my talk at the @rgsibg.bsky.social !! 27 April, both in person and online. 🥳 #NavalHistory
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
February 5, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Very excited to announce my talk at the @rgsibg.bsky.social !! 27 April, both in person and online. 🥳 #NavalHistory
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
February 4, 2026 at 4:55 PM
'The Awe of The Arctic', a beautifully illustrated book about the 2024 exhibition at the New York Public Library that I sadly didn't get to see. Including a letter from HMS Erebus' Surgeon Stephen Stanley! Well worth getting this book. #Arctic #NavalHistory
February 4, 2026 at 4:12 PM
'The Awe of The Arctic', a beautifully illustrated book about the 2024 exhibition at the New York Public Library that I sadly didn't get to see. Including a letter from HMS Erebus' Surgeon Stephen Stanley! Well worth getting this book. #Arctic #NavalHistory
A new addition to the shelf: Sir John Ross' head! Thank you Anatomical Museum Edinburgh for sharing a 3D printable file of this object. Wonder if I'm the first one to actually have it printed... I don't think it's a death mask, it says Feb. [18]21 on the back.
January 31, 2026 at 4:52 PM
A new addition to the shelf: Sir John Ross' head! Thank you Anatomical Museum Edinburgh for sharing a 3D printable file of this object. Wonder if I'm the first one to actually have it printed... I don't think it's a death mask, it says Feb. [18]21 on the back.
Some 19th century nautical books to the right and a 19th century spyglass. I told the antiques seller that I will bring the latter with me to the Arctic when/if I get to go there. #mybookshelf
January 30, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Some 19th century nautical books to the right and a 19th century spyglass. I told the antiques seller that I will bring the latter with me to the Arctic when/if I get to go there. #mybookshelf
Very happy to have a presentation copy of John Barrow's 1845 book about the Elizabethan Navy. He signed it to Lord Albert Conyngham whose bookplate is inside. Some of the pages are uncut, so Conyngham never read the entire book. [My collection] #19thC #NavalHistory
January 25, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Very happy to have a presentation copy of John Barrow's 1845 book about the Elizabethan Navy. He signed it to Lord Albert Conyngham whose bookplate is inside. Some of the pages are uncut, so Conyngham never read the entire book. [My collection] #19thC #NavalHistory
Admiralty wax seal on the envelope of an 1852 letter from John Barrow. Pretty!
[British Library] #NavalHistory
[British Library] #NavalHistory
January 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Admiralty wax seal on the envelope of an 1852 letter from John Barrow. Pretty!
[British Library] #NavalHistory
[British Library] #NavalHistory
I love Rear Admiral Sir John Ross' signature.
[John Ross to John Brown, 20 February 1850, British Library] #Arctic #NavalHistory
[John Ross to John Brown, 20 February 1850, British Library] #Arctic #NavalHistory
January 13, 2026 at 11:14 AM
I love Rear Admiral Sir John Ross' signature.
[John Ross to John Brown, 20 February 1850, British Library] #Arctic #NavalHistory
[John Ross to John Brown, 20 February 1850, British Library] #Arctic #NavalHistory
When I order items at archives I don't always know what I'll get. Sometimes it's a box full of disintegrating letters & documents and you have to just gently unfold them all. Info about Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier somewhere in there! [The National Archives]
January 10, 2026 at 3:44 PM
When I order items at archives I don't always know what I'll get. Sometimes it's a box full of disintegrating letters & documents and you have to just gently unfold them all. Info about Fitzjames' father Sir James Gambier somewhere in there! [The National Archives]
John Barrow's (1808-1898) journals span 30 years & consist of almost 60 (BIG) volumes. I will read every single page. After 2 years I'm about halfway through. It's incredible to be able to read about every day of his life & to get to know him so well. He wanted to be remembered. #19thC #research
January 6, 2026 at 10:15 PM
My first archive visit of 2026 is to Oxford University, reading more journals of John Barrow Jr., Fitzjames' close friend & a friend to all Franklin Expedition searchers. He's so dear to me. These are some of my notes of today.😄 #19thC #research #NavalHistory
January 5, 2026 at 7:38 PM
My first archive visit of 2026 is to Oxford University, reading more journals of John Barrow Jr., Fitzjames' close friend & a friend to all Franklin Expedition searchers. He's so dear to me. These are some of my notes of today.😄 #19thC #research #NavalHistory
Merry Christmas from the Euphrates Expedition! 🥲🎄
[3rd in command James Bucknall Estcourt to his father, 26 December 1835. Gloucestershire Archives] #19thC
[3rd in command James Bucknall Estcourt to his father, 26 December 1835. Gloucestershire Archives] #19thC
December 26, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Merry Christmas from the Euphrates Expedition! 🥲🎄
[3rd in command James Bucknall Estcourt to his father, 26 December 1835. Gloucestershire Archives] #19thC
[3rd in command James Bucknall Estcourt to his father, 26 December 1835. Gloucestershire Archives] #19thC
Common mistake (I also got it wrong in the beginning):
You either say HMS Erebus or the Erebus. It's never "the HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship)".
[Image not of Erebus, but ships drawn by Secret FitzUncle.] #NavalHistory
You either say HMS Erebus or the Erebus. It's never "the HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship)".
[Image not of Erebus, but ships drawn by Secret FitzUncle.] #NavalHistory
December 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Common mistake (I also got it wrong in the beginning):
You either say HMS Erebus or the Erebus. It's never "the HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship)".
[Image not of Erebus, but ships drawn by Secret FitzUncle.] #NavalHistory
You either say HMS Erebus or the Erebus. It's never "the HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship)".
[Image not of Erebus, but ships drawn by Secret FitzUncle.] #NavalHistory
Never had a view this stunning from an archive's window. Spent a few days at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, photographing letters from Rear Admiral Sherard Osborn to his publisher Blackwood. I plan to write Osborn's biography.
December 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Never had a view this stunning from an archive's window. Spent a few days at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, photographing letters from Rear Admiral Sherard Osborn to his publisher Blackwood. I plan to write Osborn's biography.
"Soothing to Old Maids & Bachelors" John Barrow shares an interesting article, with statistics of the state of English marriages. "Those who are really happy: 6." JB feeling vindicated that he never married. [JB's journal, 17 April 1879] #19thC
November 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM
"Soothing to Old Maids & Bachelors" John Barrow shares an interesting article, with statistics of the state of English marriages. "Those who are really happy: 6." JB feeling vindicated that he never married. [JB's journal, 17 April 1879] #19thC
Obtained a lithograph of my favourite Sir John Ross portrait, of him all cosy by a fire and no doubt scheming about something or other.
[By Daniel Maclise aka Alfred Croquis, first published in Fraser's Magazine 1834.] #NavalHistory
[By Daniel Maclise aka Alfred Croquis, first published in Fraser's Magazine 1834.] #NavalHistory
November 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Obtained a lithograph of my favourite Sir John Ross portrait, of him all cosy by a fire and no doubt scheming about something or other.
[By Daniel Maclise aka Alfred Croquis, first published in Fraser's Magazine 1834.] #NavalHistory
[By Daniel Maclise aka Alfred Croquis, first published in Fraser's Magazine 1834.] #NavalHistory
The 'Aurora Borealis' newspaper by the crew of Franklin Expedition Search vessel HMS Assistance, on display at the Queen's House, National Maritime Museum Greenwich. In the header is shown Erebus and Terror and a sort of sea goddess version of Lady Franklin. #NavalHistory #Arctic
November 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The 'Aurora Borealis' newspaper by the crew of Franklin Expedition Search vessel HMS Assistance, on display at the Queen's House, National Maritime Museum Greenwich. In the header is shown Erebus and Terror and a sort of sea goddess version of Lady Franklin. #NavalHistory #Arctic
HANDSOMEST MEN IN THE NAVY. William Edward Parry and John Ross.
[National Maritime Museum Greenwich] #NavalHistory
[National Maritime Museum Greenwich] #NavalHistory
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
HANDSOMEST MEN IN THE NAVY. William Edward Parry and John Ross.
[National Maritime Museum Greenwich] #NavalHistory
[National Maritime Museum Greenwich] #NavalHistory
Jail for whoever colourised this photo, Fitzjames was a GINGER. Sigh, the paperback that should never have been. Buy the original hardback if you want to read Battersby's Fitzbio. Or just wait for my infinitely more accurate one! 🙃 #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition
November 2, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Jail for whoever colourised this photo, Fitzjames was a GINGER. Sigh, the paperback that should never have been. Buy the original hardback if you want to read Battersby's Fitzbio. Or just wait for my infinitely more accurate one! 🙃 #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition