British Navy Admiral. The son of a Member of Parliament, he entered the Royal Navy in 1826, at the age of twelve. The following year, he was present at the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Navarino. In 1838, he went on an Arctic expedition in search of missing whales. Three years later, on another Arctic expedition, he served as Captain of H.M.S. Assistance and, on the 23rd. August, found the remains of Sir John Franklin's expedition at Cape Riley, Devon Island. In Ommanney's own words, he saw "fragments of stores and ragged clothing and the remains of an encampment." On the headland of nearby Beechy Island, Ommanney discovered a large cairn. More relics were scattered nearby but, although the cairn was dismantled, no further traces of the ill-fated expedition were to be found. During the Crimean War of 1854-56, he commanded the naval force in the White Sea and in the Gulf of Riga. In 1859, he was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet. He became an Admiral in 1877 and was knighted in the same year. He was married twice, firstly to Emily Smith (1844-57) with whom he had one son. After her death, he married Mary Stone.

British Navy Admiral. The son of a Member of Parliament, he entered the Royal Navy in 1826, at the age of twelve. The following year, he was present at the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Navarino. In 1838, he went on an Arctic expedition in search of missing whales. Three years later, on another Arctic expedition, he served as Captain of H.M.S. Assistance and, on the 23rd. August, found the remains of Sir John Franklin's expedition at Cape Riley, Devon Island. In Ommanney's own words, he saw "fragments of stores and ragged clothing and the remains of an encampment." On the headland of nearby Beechy Island, Ommanney discovered a large cairn. More relics were scattered nearby but, although the cairn was dismantled, no further traces of the ill-fated expedition were to be found. During the Crimean War of 1854-56, he commanded the naval force in the White Sea and in the Gulf of Riga. In 1859, he was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet. He became an Admiral in 1877 and was knighted in the same year. He was married twice, firstly to Emily Smith (1844-57) with whom he had one son. After her death, he married Mary Stone.

Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine