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.
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
FINALLY I CAN START WRITING THE FITZBIO. Studied as many primary sources as I possibly could, now have some secondary sources left to read, but after 4.5 years I can finally begin to write that book. And then there's the Letters Book, too.... #NavalHistory #excited!
November 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
FINALLY I CAN START WRITING THE FITZBIO. Studied as many primary sources as I possibly could, now have some secondary sources left to read, but after 4.5 years I can finally begin to write that book. And then there's the Letters Book, too.... #NavalHistory #excited!
I gave a talk on polar explorer Frederick Cook at the Shackleton Autumn School. Here it is in written form, including some more text and visual material that I didn't get to include because of limited time:
fabtet.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
fabtet.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
October 30, 2025 at 6:08 AM
I gave a talk on polar explorer Frederick Cook at the Shackleton Autumn School. Here it is in written form, including some more text and visual material that I didn't get to include because of limited time:
fabtet.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
fabtet.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, details of a 1806 painting by Louis-Philippe Crépin. The British flag is in the water and Nelson has just been shot. In this painting, you'd think the French were winning...
[Musee de la Marine, Paris] #NavalHistory
[Musee de la Marine, Paris] #NavalHistory
October 21, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, details of a 1806 painting by Louis-Philippe Crépin. The British flag is in the water and Nelson has just been shot. In this painting, you'd think the French were winning...
[Musee de la Marine, Paris] #NavalHistory
[Musee de la Marine, Paris] #NavalHistory
On 15 October 1859, the Illustrated Times published this image of some of the Franklin Expedition relics found by McClintock's expedition. [My collection] #NavalHistory #Arctic
October 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
On 15 October 1859, the Illustrated Times published this image of some of the Franklin Expedition relics found by McClintock's expedition. [My collection] #NavalHistory #Arctic
Euphrates Expedition, 30 September 1836: steaming into Baghdad with gay flags. [Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
October 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Euphrates Expedition, 30 September 1836: steaming into Baghdad with gay flags. [Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
John Barrow raises an important point in 1878 that the Titanic people also should've thought of: more lifeboats! [JB's journal]
October 3, 2025 at 9:46 PM
John Barrow raises an important point in 1878 that the Titanic people also should've thought of: more lifeboats! [JB's journal]
"Thus most fortunately ends our voyage to Busheer, which as a Naval man I think was rather to hastily decided upon, but "Allhamdulilla" every [thing] turns up for the best." Learning the local language!
[June 1836, Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory
[June 1836, Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory
October 1, 2025 at 8:07 AM
"Thus most fortunately ends our voyage to Busheer, which as a Naval man I think was rather to hastily decided upon, but "Allhamdulilla" every [thing] turns up for the best." Learning the local language!
[June 1836, Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory
[June 1836, Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory
Euphrates Expedition, April 1836: Fitzjames was made captain of some useless flatboat which according to every expectation broke and sank with all of their luggage. 🥲 Thank you, Colonel Chesney...
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
September 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Euphrates Expedition, April 1836: Fitzjames was made captain of some useless flatboat which according to every expectation broke and sank with all of their luggage. 🥲 Thank you, Colonel Chesney...
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
Felt like writing a new newsletter today: jamesfitzjames.substack.com/p/newsletter-3
Newsletter 3
One year anniversary of FitzFound plus research updates!
jamesfitzjames.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Felt like writing a new newsletter today: jamesfitzjames.substack.com/p/newsletter-3
"I have thought of Absent Friends – absent in The Happy Land – "not lost, but gone before" – let us hope." [John Barrow, 22 Dec 1875] Today last year news came that Fitzjames was finally found, craziest week of my life ensued but thankful for such an incredible historical breakthrough! #NavalHistory
September 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
"I have thought of Absent Friends – absent in The Happy Land – "not lost, but gone before" – let us hope." [John Barrow, 22 Dec 1875] Today last year news came that Fitzjames was finally found, craziest week of my life ensued but thankful for such an incredible historical breakthrough! #NavalHistory
"At Sunset we launched the flat, in very good style, she went in with scarcely any trouble, Fitzjames christens her the Ruggy Banger from the Sheik of Haffra who is about as ugly as the flat." The ruggy what now? 😅 [Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory
September 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
"At Sunset we launched the flat, in very good style, she went in with scarcely any trouble, Fitzjames christens her the Ruggy Banger from the Sheik of Haffra who is about as ugly as the flat." The ruggy what now? 😅 [Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journal] #NavalHistory
December 1835, the Euphrates Expedition was very ill prepared for the Turkish winter...
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
September 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
December 1835, the Euphrates Expedition was very ill prepared for the Turkish winter...
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
[Edward Charlewood's journal] #NavalHistory
I photographed all 5 volumes of Edward Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journals a few years ago, & only now have time to read them. Fitzjames similarly kept a journal during the expedition, but his has sadly 'disappeared'. Only excerpts remain: jamesfitzjames.com/report-by-mr... #NavalHistory
Report by Mr. James Fitzjames (1835)
Fitzjames’ official report from April plus June until December 1835 of the Euphrates Expedition. These parts have been published in Chesney’s book Narrative of the Euphrates Expedition:…
jamesfitzjames.com
September 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I photographed all 5 volumes of Edward Charlewood's Euphrates Expedition journals a few years ago, & only now have time to read them. Fitzjames similarly kept a journal during the expedition, but his has sadly 'disappeared'. Only excerpts remain: jamesfitzjames.com/report-by-mr... #NavalHistory
On the Euphrates Expedition, the crew had been provided with tents that were not meant to be lived in. 🥲 Fitzjames was elsewhere during this particular storm. #NavalHistory
[Edward Charlewood's Euphrates expedition journal, BL]
[Edward Charlewood's Euphrates expedition journal, BL]
September 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
On the Euphrates Expedition, the crew had been provided with tents that were not meant to be lived in. 🥲 Fitzjames was elsewhere during this particular storm. #NavalHistory
[Edward Charlewood's Euphrates expedition journal, BL]
[Edward Charlewood's Euphrates expedition journal, BL]
❤️ [My John Barrow scrapbook] #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition
September 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
❤️ [My John Barrow scrapbook] #NavalHistory #FranklinExpedition