James Fitzjames is the second of 129 men to be identified by his DNA. He will not be the last.
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*Slug:* james-fitzjames-dna-identification-franklin-expedition-tooth-king-william-island-2024
*Meta description:* DNA from a tooth found on King William Island identified James Fitzjames, captain of HMS Erebus, as the second Franklin expedition member confirmed by genetics.
*Category:* DNA / Historical Identity
*Thumbnail hook:* A preserved tooth from an 1848 Arctic disaster helped identify a Royal Navy captain missing for 176 years — and the cut marks on his jaw told another story.
*Tracking ID:* BM-CANDIDATE-091
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## Sources
**Smithsonian Magazine — “DNA Reveals Identity of Officer on the Lost Franklin Expedition.”** https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dna-reveals-identity-of-officer-on-the-lost-franklin-expedition-and-his-remains-show-signs-of-cannibalism-180985154/ — Identification of Fitzjames from DNA extracted from preserved molar connected to mandible; 25 living descendants compared; second cousin five times removed match; Douglas Stenton and Robert Park, University of Waterloo; NGLj-2 site with 451 bones from at least 13 sailors; cut marks consistent with cannibalism; “neither rank nor status was the governing principle”; second expedition member identified after John Gregory in 2021; publication in *Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports*.
**Explorersweb — “DNA Researchers Identify Cannibalized Remains From Lost Franklin Expedition.”** https://explorersweb.com/franklin-expedition-dna-fitzjames-mandible/ — NgLj-2 site on King William Island; Y-chromosome profile from living descendant; Stephen Fratpietro, Lakehead University Paleo-DNA lab; Fabiënne Tetteroo, University of Portsmouth, identified Nigel Gambier as eligible descendant; 3D scan of mandible showed cut marks; Fitzjames took command of Erebus after Franklin’s death June 11, 1847; September 2024 publication date.
**Global News — “1845 Northwest Passage James Fitzjames Identified.”** https://globalnews.ca/news/10774387/1845-northwest-passage-james-fitzjames-identified — DNA match from Y-chromosome profile; Fratpietro quote on “good quality sample”; NgLj-2 holding 13 bodies; Anne Keenleyside 1997 cut marks study; Stenton confirmed neither rank nor status governed final days; researchers asking relatives of other expedition members to contact Stenton.