Archibald McMurdo
Encyclopedia
Archibald McMurdo was a British naval officer, for whom Antarctica's McMurdo Sound
, McMurdo Station
, McMurdo Ice Shelf
, McMurdo Dry Valleys
and McMurdo-South Pole Highway
are named.
, the first to north of Hudson Bay
, the second to Antarctica. During the latter, McMurdo Sound was discovered and named.
McMurdo achieved command of HMS Contest
in 1846, which was detailed to the coast of west Africa
. He retired as a vice-admiral.
McMurdo Sound
The ice-clogged waters of Antarctica's McMurdo Sound extend about 55 km long and wide. The sound opens into the Ross Sea to the north. The Royal Society Range rises from sea level to 13,205 feet on the western shoreline. The nearby McMurdo Ice Shelf scribes McMurdo Sound's southern boundary...
, McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...
, McMurdo Ice Shelf
McMurdo Ice Shelf
McMurdo Ice Shelf is the portion of the Ross Ice Shelf bounded by McMurdo Sound and Ross Island on the north and Minna Bluff on the south. Studies show this feature has characteristics quite distinct from the Ross Ice Shelf and merits individual naming. A.J...
, McMurdo Dry Valleys
McMurdo Dry Valleys
The McMurdo Dry Valleys are a row of snow-free valleys in Antarctica located within Victoria Land west of McMurdo Sound. The region is one of the world's most extreme deserts, and includes many interesting features including Lake Vida and the Onyx River, Antarctica's longest river.-Climate:The Dry...
and McMurdo-South Pole Highway
McMurdo-South Pole highway
The South Pole Traverse, also called the McMurdo – South Pole Highway, is an approximately 900-mile compacted snow road in Antarctica that links the United States' McMurdo Station on the coast to the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station...
are named.
Biography
McMurdo joined the navy on 6 October 1824, at age 12. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant in 1836, Commander in 1843, and Captain in 1851. His career included two discovery expeditions aboard HMS TerrorHMS Terror (1813)
HMS Terror was a bomb vessel designed by Sir Henry Peake and constructed by the Royal Navy in the Davy shipyard in Topsham, Devon. The ship, variously listed as being of either 326 or 340 tons, carried two mortars, one and one .-War service:...
, the first to north of Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
, the second to Antarctica. During the latter, McMurdo Sound was discovered and named.
McMurdo achieved command of HMS Contest
HMS Contest
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Contest: or Gunboat No. 16 was a 14-gun vessel launched in 1797 and broken up in 1799. was a 5-gun gun-brig, previously the Dutch Hell-hound. She was captured in 1799 and broken up in 1803. was a 14-gun schooner purchased in 1799 and broken up...
in 1846, which was detailed to the coast of west Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He retired as a vice-admiral.