Robert Hood (explorer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Hood
|
|
---|---|
Born | 1797 Portarlington, Ireland |
Died | 21 October 1821 near Lake Providence, Northwest Territories |
(aged 23–24)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Service years | 1809–1821 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Lieutenant Robert Hood (1797–21 October 1821), born in Portarlington, Ireland, was an Anglo-Irish Royal Navy officer, explorer of the Canadian Arctic, and military artist.
In 1819, Hood was appointed midshipman on the Coppermine expedition, where he, along with George Back, was an official artist. In addition to documenting the expedition with watercolour paintings, he kept a journal which was used by John Franklin to complete his official account of the expedition, and recorded important meteorological, magnetic and auroral data. Hood was the first person to note the electromagnetic nature of the Aurora Borealis.
Hood was murdered on 21 October 1821 by an Iroquois voyageur, Michel Terohaute, who was summarily executed by John Richardson a few days later. Hood's promotion to lieutenant came in January 1821, the news of which did not reach the party until December 15, 1821.