Blanky spent much of his life working in the
merchant navy. He first went to sea at the age of eleven, serving as an apprentice on a
collier for six years. He worked various roles in the merchant navy, including two years in the
Greenland fishery. He was described in expedition records as about , strongly built, with light hair and a fair complexion. After
Victory was abandoned in 1832, Ross’s party retreated with sledges and boats towards Fury Beach. During the retreat Blanky acted as spokesman for the fatigued crew and proposed abandoning the boats and spare provisions. Ross reprimanded him for behaviour he described as approaching
mutiny, but later gave him a strong recommendation. Only three men had died and the crew were welcomed home, with Ross receiving a hero’s welcome and being
knighted.
saves the crew of Victory'', 1834 engraving Blanky was later recorded as a
master mariner in Whitby before moving to
Liverpool. The expedition became trapped in Arctic ice, and Blanky disappeared along with the rest of the crew. No personal relics associated with Blanky were recovered during later searches for the expedition. It is possible that Blanky was among the officers already dead by April 1848, although his exact death date is unknown. == Personal life ==