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A farm boy, he attended a village school and worked for a grocer in a [[Yorkshire]] village until apprenticed to a [[Whitby]] coal-shipper. He showed aptitude for mathematics and navigation, spent two years at sea in the [[Baltic]] trade and was offered a command. Instead he joined the [[Royal Navy]], rapidly drew attention for his abilities, and in 1759 was instrumental in the clandestine charting of the [[St. Lawrence River]], which allowed the British access to [[Quebec]] and its subsequent capture.  

A farm boy, he attended a village school and worked for a grocer in a [[Yorkshire]] village until apprenticed to a [[Whitby]] coal-shipper. He showed aptitude for mathematics and navigation, spent two years at sea in the [[Baltic]] trade and was offered a command. Instead he joined the [[Royal Navy]], rapidly drew attention for his abilities, and in 1759 was instrumental in the clandestine charting of the [[St. Lawrence River]], which allowed the British access to [[Quebec]] and its subsequent capture.  

He began surveys of the [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland]] coasts which were to last for some years, and led to his first command. The publication of his Newfoundland surveys and his observation of a solar eclipse were noted by the [[Royal Society]] and the [[Admiralty]] and when an expedition was planned to observe a transit of [[Venus]] in [[Tahiti]] in1769, Cook was given command. He was promoted to lieutenant (from master i.e. given a commission) and made commander of the bark "''Endeavour''" (368 tons), a converted Whitby collier – a vessel he would have been very familiar with.)

He began surveys of the [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland]] coasts which were to last for some years, and led to his first command. The publication of his Newfoundland surveys and his observation of a solar eclipse were noted by the [[Royal Society]] and the [[Admiralty]] and when an expedition was planned to observe a transit of [[Venus]] in [[Tahiti]] in 1769, Cook was given command. He was promoted to lieutenant (from master, i.e. given a commission) and made commander of the bark "''Endeavour''" (368 tons), a converted Whitby collier (a vessel he would have been very familiar with).

The voyage had two aims: the observations on Tahiti and (covertly) a search for the so-called [[“Great South Land”]]. The 94 men aboard included a team of scientists led by [[Joseph Banks]].  

The voyage had two aims: the observations on Tahiti and (covertly) a search for the so-called [[“Great South Land”]]. The 94 men aboard included a team of scientists led by [[Joseph Banks]].