| Sir Robert McClure was born in Wexford, Ireland; | | | | discovered the Viscount Melville Strait. In the |
| he joined the British navy in 1824 and twelve | | | | spring, the crew searched Banks and Victoria |
| years later gained his first experience of Arctic | | | | Islands for the missing Franklin expedition. When |
| exploration as a mate on the HMS Terror in the | | | | the ship could finally extricate itself from the ice, |
| 1836 expedition led by Sir George Back. Between | | | | McClure sailed up the west coast of Banks of |
| 1838 and 1846, he served on the Canadian lakes | | | | island and into the strait which today bears his |
| and was attached to naval stations in the West | | | | name. |
| Indies and North America. In 1848 he joined the | | | | The shifting ice trapped the ship and once again |
| Franklin search expedition under James Clark Ross | | | | they were forced to wait out the winter, McClure |
| as first lieutenant on the Enterprise. | | | | reached Winter Harbour on Melville Island by |
| On his return from this voyage, he was given | | | | sledge, he left a message detailing their |
| command of the Investigator in another search | | | | whereabouts. One year later they were rescued |
| expedition in 1850. He reached Banks Island and | | | | by the Resolute, on his return to England, McClure |
| subsequently discovered the Prince of Wales | | | | was knighted for having discovered the |
| Strait between Banks Island and Victoria Island. | | | | Northwest Passage. He never returned to the |
| He sailed into the strait but became trapped by | | | | Arctic, spending the rest of his career in the |
| the ice, they were marooned for the winter, | | | | Pacific, he was made Rear-Admiral when he |
| McClure explored further by sledge on the ice, he | | | | retired in 1873, he died later the same year. |