George Back was a British explorer, cartographer, and naturalist who made significant contributions to the mapping of the Canadian Arctic. He was born in 1796 in Stockport, England, and was the son of a wealthy merchant. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, and in 1817 he joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman.
Back's first Arctic expedition was in 1819, when he joined the expedition of William Edward Parry to explore the Arctic coast of North America. During this expedition, Back explored the Boothia Peninsula and discovered the Back River, which he named after himself. He also made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada.
In 1821, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
In 1824, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
In 1825, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
In 1826, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
In 1827, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
In 1829, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
In 1836, Back was part of an expedition led by John Franklin to explore the Arctic coast of Canada. During this expedition, Back explored the Great Fish River and the Coppermine River, and made the first detailed map of the Arctic coast of Canada. He also made the first detailed map of the Great Slave Lake.
Back's contributions to the mapping of the Arctic coast of Canada were significant. He was the first to make detailed maps of the Arctic coast of Canada, and his maps were used by later explorers and cartographers. He also made important contributions to the study of Arctic flora and fauna, and his observations were used by later naturalists.
Back died in 1878, and his legacy lives on in the maps and observations he made during his Arctic expeditions. His maps and observations are still used by modern cartographers and naturalists, and his name is remembered as one of the great explorers of the Canadian Arctic.