Date Published:
July 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Sir Martin Frobisher

Frobisher, Sir Martin (d. 1594), explorer, was a native of Doncaster, England. He was a pioneer in England in advocating a search for the northwest passage to China; and he made three successive expeditions to the north-eastern coast of North America in 1576, 1577, and 1578. In 1576 he discovered the strait that now bears his name; but he does not appear to have penetrated the Arctic archipelago much further than this. In 1588 he distinguished himself in the fight with the Spanish Armada, and was knighted. He died on November 7, 1594, from the effects of a wound received while leading an attack by sea against Brest. An account of his voyages was printed by Richard Hakluyt in his Principall navigations, and was reprinted by the Hakluyt Society under the title, The three voyages of Martin Frobisher (London , 1867). See William McFee, Sir Martin Frobisher (London, 1928).

Source  : W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 401.