Richardson, Sir John

(1787-1865). Born in Dumfries, Scotland. Educated at Edinburgh University. In 1807 entered the navy as a istant surgeon, and took part in the attack on Copenhagen. In 1816 obtained the degree of M.D. from Edinburgh; and in 1819 appointed surgeon and naturalist in Franklin's Arctic expedition, spending the winter of that year in the Saskatchewan district. In 1821 the party reached Fort Providence, and in October, 1822, returned to England. In 1825 accompanied Franklin on his second expedition to the north. In 1838 appointed physician to the Royal Hospital at Haslar; in 1840 inspector of hospitals; and in 1846 knighted. Placed in command of an expedition sent to search for Franklin in 1848, but returned to England without finding any trace of the explorer. Bib. : Works: Arctic Searching Expedition ; Fauna Boreali American a . For biog., see Dict. Nat. Biog.