1790-1855

British explorer who made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the North Pole and to find the Northwest Passage. During his explorations across the North American continent he was able to map a considerable amount of new territory. Some of the many new areas he described were Prince Regent Inlet, Wellington Channel, Barrow Strait, and Melville Sound. In 1819-20 Parry was the first person to sail beyond 11° west longitude mark in the Arctic. Although his primary purpose was land discovery, he developed an interest in native people and their culture. He studied the Inuit Eskimo for two winters in 1821-23. His last effort to find the Northwest Passage was in 1824-25, also unsuccessful. Parry was later knighted.