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Stromness in Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
 

Dr John Rae

 
 
Dr John Rae Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 29, 2018
1. Dr John Rae Marker
Inscription.
Dr John Rae was born in Orkney at the Hall of Clestrain. He became an explorer with the Hudson’s bay Company, learning from the native people how Timothy survive in the Canadian Arctic. He led three of the four expeditions in which he took part, travelling 3,645 miles on foot & 6,700 miles by boat, tracing 1,765 miles of unknown Arctic coastline.

In 1854, he discovered Rae Strait, the last link in the first navigable North-West Passage between the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans, & the demise of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.

Unveiled on the 200th anniversary of Dr Rae’s birth.

Sculpted by Ian Scott     Donated by the Twatt family, Banff
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
 
Location. 58° 57.807′ N, 3° 17.854′ W. Marker is in Stromness, Scotland, in Orkney. It is at the intersection of Ferry Road and Victoria Street, on the right when traveling south on Ferry Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stromness, Scotland KW16 3AA, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, on the Celtic Fringe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stromness Lifeboat Station (a few steps from this marker); Alexander Graham (within shouting distance of this marker); Warehouse (within shouting distance of this marker);
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Shipwrecks of Scapa Flow (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Lieutenant’s House (about 240 meters away); Fitzroy Fisheries Barometer (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); a different marker also named Alexander Graham (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Eliza Fraser (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stromness.
 
Also see . . .
1. John Rae Society. (Submitted on December 19, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. John Rae (explorer) on Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 19, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
 
Dr John Rae image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 29, 2018
2. Dr John Rae
Dr John Rae Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Michael Herrick, August 29, 2018
3. Dr John Rae Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 237 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
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Jun. 24, 2026