James Booth Lockwood

Who was James Booth Lockwood?

James Booth Lockwood, was an American arctic explorer. He died on the ill-fated Lady Franklin Bay Expedition.

Lockwood was born in Annapolis, Maryland to General Henry Hayes Lockwood and his wife Anna. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the US Army in 1873. In 1881, Lockwood signed up for the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition under Adolphus W. Greely, and was accepted as second-in-command.

During this three-year expedition, Lockwood led a sledging party, with David Legge Brainard, to Mary Murray Island, off northern Greenland, at a latitude of 83°24'30", thus breaking the record of the time for the most northerly point reached. In 1883, he crossed Grant Land, reaching the western shore of Ellesmere Island. He died at Cape Sabine, Canada, in April 1884, along with several other members of the party, before rescue arrived on June 22 that year.