Rice, George Walter

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Rice_(photographer)
  • Wiki Biography:
    • George Walter Rice (29 June 1855 – 9 April 1884) was a Canadian photographer who was first to photograph the Arctic region on the ill-fated American led Lady Franklin Bay Expedition of 1881 to 1884. Rice died in the Arctic on 9 April 1884 while awaiting the arrival of a relief vessel
    • George Rice was selected by expedition leader Adolphus Greelyas the photographer for a planned expedition to the Arctic Ocean in 1881 after learning of his skill as a photographer in Washington DC. The expedition to Lady Franklin Bay on Ellesmere Island and points north was sponsored by the United States Army Signal Corps, so Rice, a civilian and the only Canadian on the expedition, was given the rank of sergeant.  Rice was also on assignment to write about and photograph the expedition for the New York Herald, whose publisher had financed the missing Jeannette expedition and hoped they might find sign of it.
    • Rice died on 9 April 1884 near Cape Sabine while hunting seal, polar bear and other arctic animals as food for the remaining survivors. The relief expedition aboard the steam vessels Bear, Thetis, Alert, and the clipper Loch Garry reached Greely and six other survivors at Pim Island on 22 June 1884. Efforts by Rice were credited by Greely for saving the lives of the few who did survive the ordeal.
  • Second Great Grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=4151
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249717792/george-walter-rice