Durand in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
John Rae, Arctic Explorer
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 22, 2023
1. John Rae, Arctic Explorer Marker
This plaque marks the site where the residence of Dr. John Rae, MD, LL.D, FRS, FRCS used to stand.
Rae was born in the Orkney Islands on 30 September, 1813. Graduating in medicine from Edinburgh, he joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1833, and spent ten years at Moose Factory.
From 1846 to 1854 he led, or was second in command of, four Arctic expeditions. He travelled in small boats and on foot over 13,000 miles, averaging over 25 miles a day, and charted 1,700 miles of unknown coastlines between the Mackenzie River and Hudson's Bay, Rae adopted many Inuit and Indian techniques for travel and survival. In 1854 he was the first European to bring back information about the fate of the Franklin Expedition.
Dr. Rae lived here from 1857 to 1860. He was a founding member and first Vice-President of the Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art. In the winter of 1859 he is said to have snowshoed from Hamilton to Toronto in seven hours for a dinner engagement. Rae died in London, England on 22 July, 1893, and is buried in Kirkwall, Orkney.
Erected with the assistance of the Ontario
this page online
Erected by City of Hamilton, with the assistance of the Ontario Heritage Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 43° 15.292′ N, 79° 52.521′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Durand. It is at the intersection of Hunter Street West and Bay Street South, on the right when traveling west on Hunter Street West. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hamilton ON L8P 3H3, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe, in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area, and specifically in the Toronto Metropolitan Area. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hamilton Central Public School (within shouting distance
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 22, 2023
2. John Rae, Arctic Explorer Marker
Also see . . . The Hudsons Bay Company - Dr. John Rae.
Dr. Rae first served as the Medical Officer at Moose Factory, located on an island at the mouth of the Moose River, often visiting the surrounding First Nations who needed his help. Immediately upon his arrival, he was deemed one of the best hunters around, and after only a few years, the best snowshoer on the continent. Moreover, the cold did not seem to affect him. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Rae kept an open mind towards the various Indigenous cultures he encountered. As a result, he adopted many of(Submitted on April 23, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)their habits in terms of clothing and travelling, each time improving his knowledge and well-being. He was a born Arctic explorer, seizing every opportunity and adapting every situation to his best advantage.18533. John Rae, 1853, portrait by Stephen PearceSource: wikimedia commons/ National Portrait Gallery, London (public domain)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 23, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
