Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Schwatka, Frederick 1849-1892

Explorer; born in Galena, Ill., Sept. 29, 1849; graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1871, and commissioned second lieutenant in the 3d United States Cavalry. He secured a leave of absence in 1878 and took command of the Sir John Franklin search expedition which sailed from New York on June 19, in the Eothen. In a fifteen months tour he succeeded in clearing up a great deal of the mystery in connection with that fated expedition. In 1886 he had charge of a special expedition to Alaska, and later made a second exploring tour in that territory. His publications include Along Alaska's Great-River; The Franklin search, under Lieutenant Schwatka; Nimrod of the North; and Children of the cold. He died in Portland, Ore., Nov. 2, 1892.