The Arctic Seas
On tuesday 4 december 1883, Arthur Conan Doyle attended and spoke about "The Arctic Seas" at the Portsmouth Literary and Scientific Society (PLSS) meeting held at the Penny-street Lecture Hall (Portsmouth).
Attendees
- President/Chairman
- Colonel A. W. Drayson, F.R.A.S., R.A.
- Speakers
- Attendees
- General C. D. Nugent
- General J. W. Playfair, C.B., R.E.
- General J. W. Cox, C.B.
- General C. P. Catty
- General W. Ramsay
- Colonel J. Waddell Boyd
- Colonel Brodigan
- Major F. S. Terry
- Captain T. Richey, R.A.
- Rev. H. Dessart
- Rev. Dr. G. Colborne
- Rev. W. J. Staynes
- Dr. C. F. Edwards
- Dr. W. H. Axford, Fleet-Surgeon
- Dr. G. Kell, R.N.
- Dr. E. K. Knight
- Dr. F. J. Driver
- Dr. G. H. Smith
- Dr. A. Conan Doyle
- Dr. B. Guillemard
- Dr. Woods
- Mr. J. M. Ollis, R.N.
- Mr. J. Hay
- Mr. B. Nicholson
- Mr. G. Ollis
- Mr. W. Read
- Mr. J. A. Wilson, R.N.
- Dental-Surgeon W. H. Kirton
- Mr. T. Newell
- Mr. G. Palmer
- Mr. J. Watkins
- Mr. A. Howell
- Mr. J. Abraham
- Mr. A. Fyson
- Mr. F. Wollaston
- Mr. J. R. Constantine
- Mr. C. Constantine
- Mr. W. E. Atkins
- Mr. H. Murrell
- Mr. J. Muir
- Mr. E. Byrne
- Mr. C. Foran
- Mr. M. Somers Gardner
- Mr. H. Read
- Mr. G. Dimmer
- Mr. F. Fay
- Mr. E. F. Burton
- Mr. E. Charpentier
- Mr. W. Pond
- Mr. E. Bewley
- Mr. J. Barmiston
- Mr. F. Gough,
- Mr. W. Seymour
- Mr. J. Rockett
- Mr. G. F. Bell
- Dr. J. Ward Cousins, Hon. Sec.
- Elected members
- Surgeon-General J. Lamprey, P.M.O.
- Colonel J. Waddell Boyd
- Dr. C. F. Edwards
- Nominated for membership
- Lieutenant-Colonel Brodigan
- Dr. James Niel
- Capt. T. Richey, R.A.
About Conan Doyle's lecture
Dr. A. Conan Doyle delivered a lecture on Arctic exploration, emphasizing that despite significant advancements in geographic knowledge, vast unexplored regions remained, particularly around the North and South Poles. He highlighted the long history of attempts to reach the North Pole, filled with hardships such as shipwrecks, starvation, and death, but also demonstrating human resilience and bravery. Conan Doyle reviewed past expeditions from Elizabethan explorers to the British efforts of 1875, arguing that British seamen had outperformed their predecessors. He speculated that the final miles to the Pole might be less harsh than assumed and suggested a systematic approach to exploration — sending a vessel annually until conditions allowed passage. He proposed a government reward for reaching the Pole, asserting that national pride and scientific advancement justified the pursuit.
Full Reports
- Portsmouth Literary and Scientific Society (8 december 1883, Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle)
