Sir John Franklin was born in 1786, and his wife in 1791, and they came to Van Diemens Land in 1837. Sir John was already renowned for his two expeditions in 1818 and 1824 to the Arctic. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemens Land until 1843, when he was recalled.

Lady Franklin played a wider role in the affairs of the State, and was far more travelled than any other Governor's wife had been. Both the Franklins tried to play down the image of the State being nothing more than a penal settlement, and encouraged the usage of the new name Tasmania. They nurtured local pride and instigated the establishment of a number of educational and cultural institutions. Sir John died on his third expedition to the Arctic in 1847. His wife died in 1874.

0 of a possible 0 points from 0 votes