Edward Adams (surgeon)

Edward Adams (Febuary 24, 1824 to November 12, 1856) was an English Naval surgeon, and naturalist born in Great Barton. In January 1850 Adams left on another expedition to look for Franklin. This time he was aboard HMS Enterprise under Captain Richard Collinson. They reached the Bering Strait in August, and Adams was put ashore at St. Michael, just north of the Yukon delta, to investigate reports of possible survivors from Franklin's crew. He rejoined the Enterprise in July 1851, sailing east below Banks Island and Victoria Island, and penetrating further east than any ship previously. They returned to England in 1855.

Adams passed his full naval surgeon's exams, and travelled to west Africa in May 1856 on board the steamship Hecla. He died there of typhus, and was buried at Sierra Leone.

Adams was commemorated in the name of the White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii, by his friend George Robert Gray.