Beechey Island is of historical importance in the exploration of
the Northwest Passage. In 1845, Sir John Franklin commanded two
ships and 128 men in the most ambitious attempt to navigate the
Northwest Passage. Failing in their first attempt, the group
wintered on Beechey Island facing a severe winter. Several men
died from tuberculosis and are buried in these graves.

In Spring, the remaining crew set out again to find the Northwest
Passage but were never heard from again. Major attempts failed
to find remains of the crew until this year when one ship was
located in Victoria Strait, just off King William Island.