How an Arctic explorer’s 1824 canned veal survived for over a century

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sir William Edward Parry was a legendary Royal Navy officer who led some of the most successful Arctic expeditions in history. He pioneered the use of canned food to sustain his crews, yet these early preservation experiments were so robust that viable bacteria were discovered in his supplies over a century later.

Born in 1790, William Edward Parry rose through the ranks of the Royal Navy, eventually becoming a central figure in the search for the Northwest Passage. His 1819–1820 expedition remains one of the most productive in Arctic history. By navigating the Parry Channel and reaching Winter Harbour on Melville Island, he secured a £5,000 reward from Parliament. During this journey, he implemented innovative strategies to combat the harsh environment, including planting mustard and cress seeds in his cabin to fight scurvy and utilizing early canning techniques for food preservation.

Parry’s commitment to scientific observation and logistical improvement was constant. On his second voyage in 1821, he introduced cork insulation and improved heating systems to his ships, HMS Fury and HMS Hecla, to manage extreme cold and condensation. He was a meticulous record-keeper, publishing detailed journals of his voyages and even documenting optical phenomena, such as the Parry arc. His dedication extended to his later career, where he served as the comptroller of the Navy’s steam machinery department and reorganized the mail packet service.

Despite his successes, the Arctic remained unforgiving. In 1825, his ship, the Fury, was wrecked by ice pressure at Prince Regent Inlet, leaving behind a cache of stores that would later prove vital for other explorers, including Sir John Ross. Parry’s legacy is marked by both his exploration and his scientific curiosity; in 1939, researchers found that canned roast veal from his 1824 expedition still contained heat-resistant bacterial spores. He died in 1855, having reached the rank of rear-admiral and leaving his name on landmarks ranging from the Moon to the Canadian Arctic.

Parry was also a man of deep faith and moral conviction. As an evangelical Christian, he advocated for reform within the Navy and authored religious texts alongside his navigational journals. His life represents a unique intersection of 19th-century naval discipline, scientific advancement, and the relentless, often dangerous, pursuit of geographical discovery.

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