British MP is taking John Rae into Westminster Abbey
STROMNESS, ORKNEY – A John Rae plaque is going into Westminster
Abbey.
Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney in the British House of
Commons, announced this evening that in 2014, a plaque will be mounted in the
Abbey recognizing the Orcadian explorer as “the discoverer of the final link in
the Northwest Passage.”
Carmichael made the announcement at a reception following the
unveiling of a new statue of Rae (1813-1893) overlooking Stromness harbour.
Carmichael has twice brought motions to the British House of
Commons seeking support for what many regard as overdue recognition of Rae.
This time, he went straight to the Dean of Westminster Abbey, who quickly agreed.
In a brief chat following his
announcement, Carmichael said
final confirmation awaits some “byzantine paperwork, but the Dean is onside, and that is what matters.”
In my book Fatal
Passage, which is the reason I am here as writer-in-residence, I celebrated the Scottish-Orcadian Rae for charting 1,800 miles of
Arctic coastline, and for solving the two great mysteries of 19th
century Arctic exploration. He discovered the final link in the Northwest
Passage, and also the fate of the 1845 expedition led by Sir John Franklin, whose last survivors were driven to cannibalism.
The plaque will be made of Orkney stone, Carmichael said. “We
have identified a spot on the wall near the Franklin bust.” The inscriptions
beneath that bust and the larger-than-life statute of Franklin in nearby
Waterloo Place have drawn criticism from the growing numbers of people who believe that
the credit given to Franklin rightly belongs to Rae.
Several hundred people turned out for the ceremonial unveiling of the
bronze statue, which was donated to the people of Orkney by Stromness native Alan
Twatt. The inscription celebrates Rae as
“the discoverer of the final link in the first navigable Northwest Passage.”
[Photos by Sheena Fraser McGoogan]
Well, actually I was the one who wrote to the Dean, at Mr Carmichael's request — I'm glad that my letter seems to have proved persuasive, though an announcement of the plaque's actual placement might be premature; I certainly hope it meets with the approval of the relevant committees!
Good on you, Russell. Mr. Carmichael said he had personally spoken with the Dean and gained his support for that placement. Given that, he said, the rest should follow.
Thanks Ken, I appreciate it. And, although you know we differ somewhat on some historical questions, glad we both agree this honor for Rae is long overdue. Hope it moves smoothly through whatever committees the Dean and Chapter have to approve such things!