Frobisher Facts Country England Occupation Navigator, Explorer, Prospector Arctic Regions Explored Baffin, Kidlunarn, & Hall Islands in Canadian Arctic # of Arctic expeditions 4 Most famous Arctic expedition Discovery of "Mistaken Strait" later named Hudson Strait (1578) Other Significant Events Gold ore claim greatly increased European interest in the New World Did you know? Frobisher made two voyages to Africa as a youth. At one point he was captured by the Portuguese, and he also spent some years as a pirate. Frobisher returned to England in 1576 with a sample of black rock he claimed to contain gold; later identified as only iron pyrite or "fools gold," he narrowly escaped a prison term. In 1861Charles Francis Hall discovered that"Frobisher's Streights" was actually a 150 mile inlet. Frobisher served honorably in the defense against the Spanish Armada in 1588 and was knighted.

Martin Frobisher
(1539 - 1594)

Frobisher's first voyage was in 1576. With two ships, the Michael and the Gabriel he sailed around Baffin Island and discovered an inlet (now known as Frobisher Bay) that he believed to be the Northwest Passage. Landing near Resolution Island, he named the land "Queen Elizabeth's Forelande." In an encounter with the local Inuit, five sailors were killed. He then landed at "North Forelande", the eastern tip of Hall Island, and claimed the land in the name of the Queen. From there he set sail along the waterway which he believed was the route to the Orient and to which he gave the name "Frobisher's Streights." Returning to England with an Inuit captive, he also brought back ore that was mistakenly identified as gold.

The prospect of riches in the New World attracted many investors and Frobisher was quickly supplied with more ships and equipment. This second voyage in 1577 was commissioned mainly to gather more of the black rock (which assayers later determined to contain only worthless iron pyrite or "fools gold") but also to search for the fabled Northwest Passage. Frobisher once again landed on Hall Island but found no "ore". Queen Elizabeth gave the name "Meta Incognita" to the new land.

Frobisher's final voyage consisted of fifteen vessels and was again financed for the purposes of mining and exploration with the added goal of colonizing "Meta Incognita." But Frobisher missed the entrance to "Frobisher's Streights" on this voyage and instead sailed a considerable distance up Hudson Strait, which he named "Mistaken Strait". Upon realization of their mistake the boats then headed back and landed on Countess of Warwick Island (the present Kidlunarn Island) and began mining operations. However, the loss of a supply boat at the beginning of the voyage, forced the crew into abandonning plans for colonization in the hopes of returning the following year.

Ensuing difficulties, including the collapse of financial backing ended Frobisher's quest for the Northwest Passage. Although he did not reach the Orient or find "riches" in the new land, his voyages did fuel much of Europe's future interest in Arctic exploration. Following his Arctic journeys, Frobisher had various commands, including that of vice-admiral in Sir Francis Drake's 1585-86 expedition to the West Indies.