The New Student's Reference Work/Kane, Elisha Kent

Kane (kán), Elisha Kent, an Arctic explorer of renown, was born at Philadelphia on Feb. 3, 1820. He graduated in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1842, and entered the United States navy as a surgeon in the following year. He commenced his remarkable career as an Arctic explorer in 1850 accompanying the Grinnell expedition in search of Franklin. In 1853 he was made commander of a second expedition for the same purpose. The object of this expedition was never attained; and, after undergoing the greatest hardships and privation during two winters, it was finally resolved to abandon the ship and return home. Kane reached Philadelphia in October, 1855, and soon after published a narrative of the expedition. He died at Havana, Cuba, Feb. 16, 1857. See Life by W. Elder.