Among the many Orcadians whose lives are remembered in St Magnus Cathedral is one of the islands’ most remarkable figures: the Arctic explorer John Rae.
Rae was born in 1813 at Hall of Clestrain on the west mainland of Orkney. Like many Orcadians of his time, he grew up in a seafaring culture shaped by weather, landscape and practical skill. These qualities would later make him one of the most capable explorers of the nineteenth century.
Rae trained as a doctor and joined the Hudson’s Bay Company, which sent him to work in northern Canada. There he developed an approach to Arctic exploration very different from that of many of his contemporaries.
Rather than relying entirely on European methods, Rae learned survival skills from Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. He travelled lightly, used snowshoes and sledges, and adopted local techniques for hunting and living in extreme conditions. Because of this, he became one of the most effective Arctic explorers of his time.
During a series of expeditions between 1846 and 1854, Rae mapped vast stretches of the Arctic coastline, discovering previously unknown sections of the Canadian Arctic and helping to clarify the geography of the long-sought Northwest Passage.
Rae is also remembered for his connection to one of the most famous exploration stories of the nineteenth century, the disappearance of the expedition led by Sir John Franklin.
In 1854, while travelling near the Arctic coast, Rae gathered information from Inuit hunters that helped reveal the fate of Franklin’s lost expedition. He reported that the crews had perished after their ships became trapped in ice.
Although Rae’s report provided the first reliable account of what had happened, it was controversial at the time and his achievements were often overshadowed by the heroic reputation of Franklin. In recent years, however, historians have increasingly recognised Rae as one of the most skilled and successful Arctic explorers of the Victorian era.
St Magnus Cathedral plays an important role in preserving Rae’s memory in Orkney. A memorial to him stands within the cathedral, honouring his achievements and his connection to the islands that shaped him.
The presence of Rae’s memorial within the cathedral reflects a wider tradition: the building has long served as a place where Orcadians remember notable figures from their community. In this way the cathedral acts not only as a place of worship, but also as a keeper of Orkney’s collective story.
For many visitors today, the memorial to John Rae provides a reminder that the influence of these small northern islands has reached far beyond their shores, even into the icy landscapes of the Arctic.
