Memorable Manitobans: Luke Foxe (1586-1635)

Sailor, explorer.

Born in Yorkshire, England, he became an experienced sailor who was fascinated with the Arctic and the possibility of a Northwest Passage. In 1629 he succeeded in gaining support for an exploratory voyage, which left London in 1631 and returned there that same year. Foxe discovered little of importance. He recounted his story in a work titled North-West Fox (1635), which began by reviewing the work of his predecessors and which was regarded by some commentators as “quaint” and “amusing.” He did manage to resurrect Thomas Button’s major voyage to Hudson Bay, which had been forgotten for many years.

More information:

The Voyages of Captain Luke Foxe of Hull by Miller Christy (1899)

Luke Foxe, Dictionary of Canadian Biography I, 311-12.

Sources:

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

Page revised: 8 March 2008

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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