Historic Arctic Expeditions

The late Vero Copner Wynne-Edwards FRS held the Regius Chair of Natural History at Aberdeen University from 1945-1975.

Wynne-Edwards had earler worked at McGill University in Montreal and whilst there developed a deep interest in the Arctic environment and was involved in two expeditions to the North.

1. The Thebaud expedition of 1937

In 1937, the great Arctic explorer Donald Baxter MacMillan commanded a 72-day Arctic expedition aboard the "Gertrude L. Thebaud," travelling to Labrador, Frobisher Bay, and Baffin Land. The crew was made up of college students and professors, including Wynne-Edwards, from Bowdoin, New York University, Kirksville College, McGill and other institutions; one high school student; the ship's captain, John T. Crowell; and a few seasoned sailors. The "Thebaud" expedition was MacMillan's 16th Arctic voyage.

Dedicated to research and collection, the expedition returned with extensive samples of Arctic flora and a collection of bird skins, studied the geography of Resolution Island, and explored the Baffin Island ice caps and other land masses.

Recently we have discovered a box of quarter plate photographs taken on the expedition by Wynne-Edwards and we are preparing a slide show of photographs taken on the expedition. Meanwhile, you can enjoy a taster of what is to come!

2. The 1950 Baffin Island Expedition

Once established in Aberdeen Wynne-Edwards devoted himself to a second expedition to Arctic Canada, to Baffin Island. A powerpoint slide show of photographs from the expedition is available to view.