As first lieutenant, Morrell kept a detailed log book which provided meteorological observations and navigational notes. The expedition eventually failed to penetrate thick pack ice. The expedition returned to England without having achieved its goal. It would be nearly 40 years before Arctic exploration would be recognized, and in 1856 the Arctic Medal was struck and issued retroactively for various polar voyages starting with 1818, the year of Buchan's expedition. Ascension Island After a brief period commanding , which included successfully interdicting slave ships off the west coast of Africa, Morrell, now a commander, was in 1844 appointed Commandant of Ascension Island, an island in the Atlantic that held strategic value to Britain, due to its proximity to both Africa and South America. He served as the island's 16th commandant for nearly three years, during which time the Royal Navy continued to engage the slave trade, and would have used the island as a base of operations and victualling stop. Service history 1801: entered the Royal Navy as a first class volunteer aboard HMS Doris. 1803–1804: served on , 36 1806: Promoted to master's mate aboard HMS Redbridge, 12 1808: Served on board , 64, Captain William Pryce Cumby commanding 1809: Confirmed to the rank of lieutenant. 1814: Served on board , Captain John Lampeu Manley commanding 1818: Appointed first lieutenant of HMHS Dorothea, under Commander David Buchan 1821: First lieutenant aboard , 46, Captain Fleetwood Pellew 1823–1841: On half-pay 1843: Commander of , 10 1844–1847: Commandant of Ascension Island 1846: Commander of 1856: Promoted to captain and awarded the Arctic Medal (1818–55) on retirement from the Royal Navy Marriage and family In 1820, Morrell married Elizabeth Reid, daughter of the "first pay clerk of wages" at Devonport, William Reid. Morrell was promoted to the rank of commander in 1821, but with peace, much of the Royal Navy was on half-pay. In between periods at sea, it seems that Morrell and Elizabeth lived in or near Devonport. But by 1830, the family had moved to Dinan, in France, where two of his sons were born, George Truman Morrell and another Arthur Morrell, both of whom would also serve in the Royal Navy. Elizabeth later died aged 61, on 29 September 1862, by which time the family had settled in Dartford, Erith, Kent. They had eight children together, of whom six would survive into adulthood. Anna Harriett Cumberland Pellew Morrell Lucy