The British government decided to send an expedition to observe the phenomenon. A more secret motive was to search for the fabled southern continent. Those on board included astronomer Charles Green and botanist Joseph Banks. Endeavour arrived in Tahiti in April where Green was able to observe the transit of Venus. Endeavour continued on to New Zealand, and then sailed along the length of Australia's eastern coast, which had never before been seen by Europeans.
Cook claimed it for Britain and named it New South Wales. Cook and his crew then returned home, arriving in July Lawrence River operation which led to the capture of Quebec.
He was transferred to H. Northumberland surveying the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In Cook was given his first command in the ' Grenville '. He soon got the reputation as a good surveyor.
In addition his observations of an eclipse of the sun on 5th August brought him to the notice of the Royal Society. On 26th May Cook was commissioned as lieutenant and a day later he joined H. Cook eventually joined the British Navy and, at age 29, was promoted to ship's master. In , he took command of the first scientific expedition to the Pacific.
This area has since been credited as one of the world's most dangerous areas to navigate. After his return to England, Cook was chosen to circumnavigate and explore Antarctica. During all his voyages, Cook successfully fought scurvy, a deadly disease caused by vitamin deficiency, by feeding his crew a diet that included watercress, sauerkraut and orange extract.
He died in a skirmish with islanders during a winter layover in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, on February 14, Today, Cook's voyages are credited with helping to guide generations of explorers and with providing the first accurate map of the Pacific, and many believe that he did more to fill the map of the world than any other explorer in history.
Its chief importance for Australian discovery was in February and March when the Adventure , parted from the Resolution by fog and gales, made for the south coast of Van Diemen's Land.
He went on to explore the Pacific coasts of North America and Siberia. Cook's strength was his self-confidence. He drove himself as hard as his men yet they followed him loyally, though they sometimes grumbled at his rules of hygiene and at the diet necessary to prevent scurvy, which were singularly successful in preserving the health of his crews. He was also severe on uncompliant natives whom he met on his voyages, and his readiness to use force contributed to his untimely death.
His greatest achievements were negative, for they proved where land was not, but his coastal charting set high standards and many of his discoveries helped to create a second British empire. View the front pages for Volume 1. Cook, James — This article was published: in the Australian Dictionary of Biography , Volume 1 , online in Beaglehole, The Exploration of the Pacific Lond,
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