M'CLURE, SIR ROBERT JOHN LE MESURIER, the discoverer of the North-West Passage, was born at Wexford, January 28, 1807, and died in London, October 17, 1873. He was the posthumous son of one of Abercrombie's captains, and spent his childhood under the care of his godfather, General Le Mesurier, hereditary governor of Alderney. Schooled in Arctic exploration by his service under Captain Back on board the " Terror," he was first lieutenant of the " Enterprise " during the Franklin search expedition (1848-49), and in 1850 was placed in command of the expedition which, battling with the frozen sea for four years, succeeded in passing from ocean to ocean to the north of the American continent. M'Clure was knighted on his return, and received gold medals from the English and the French geographical societies. During the Canadian insurrections of 1836-38 he had performed some gallant exploits on the lakes, - on one occasion, in the eagerness of pursuit, infringing the territory of the United States ; and between 1856 and 1861 he rendered good service in the Chinese war at the storming of Canton, &c. His latter years were spent in a quiet country life. He was appointed Commander of the Bath in 1859, and had attained the rank of vice-admiral on the retired list. See Admiral Sherard Osborn, The Discovery of a North-TVest Passage.