Francais Glacier is a glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

 4 nautical miles (7 km) wide and 12 nautical miles (22 km) long, flowing north-northeast from the continental ice to the coast close west of Ravin Bay

Ravin Bay

Ravin Bay is a small bay between Cape Pepin and the point where Francais Glacier discharges into the sea. Discovered in 1840 by a French expedition under Captain Jules Dumont d'Urville and named by him for the aspect of the coast, "ravin" being French for ravine....

. Though no glaciers were noted on Captain Jules Dumont

Jules Dumont

Jules Dumont was born in Roubaix, 1 January 1888, and died at Suresnes, Mont Valérien, 15 June 1943.Dumont was a French militant Communist. He fought in the Spanish Civil War, commanding the Commune de Paris Battalion, XIV International Brigade. He was active in the French Resistance in the Second...

 d'Urville's chart of this coast, the close correlation of his "Baie des Ravins" feature and narrative description with the indentation of the coast near the mouth of this glacier suggests first sighting of this feature by the French expedition, 1837-40. During December 1912 members of the Main Base Party of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition

Australasian Antarctic Expedition

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was an Australasian scientific team that explored part of Antarctica between 1911 and 1914. It was led by the Australian geologist Douglas Mawson, who was knighted for his achievements in leading the expedition. In 1910 he began to plan an expedition to chart...

 camped on the upland slopes close east of the glacier, but no reference was made to the glacier in the Australasian Antarctic Expedition reports, though a clear view and unpublished sketch were obtained of the distant coast to the northwest. Delineated from air photos taken by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, 1946-47. The French Antarctic Expedition

French Antarctic Expedition

French Antarctic Expedition refers to several French expeditions in Antarctica.-First expedition:Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec was a French explorer....

under Marret, 1952-53, sledged west on the sea ice to the ice cliffs close east of the glacier. Named after the Charcot, 1903-05.