HMS Erebus was a Royal Navy ship launched in 1826, originally designed for exploration and scientific research. It gained fame during the Franklin Expedition of 1845, which aimed to find the Northwest Passage in the Arctic. The ship was equipped with advanced technology for its time, including steam power and reinforced hulls to withstand ice. In 1848, after the expedition went missing, search parties were sent to find the crew and the ships. HMS Erebus was eventually discovered in 2014 near King William Island in Canada, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by explorers in the harsh Arctic environment.