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[[Image:James_Cook.gif|thumb|200px|Captain James Cook]]

[[Image:James_Cook.gif|thumb|200px|Captain James Cook]]

JAMES COOK, (1728-1779), British navigator, was born on 27th October 1728, in [[Yorkshire]], [[England]]. He died in the Sandwich Islands (now [[Hawaii]]) on 14th February 1779.

'''James Cook''', (1728-1779), British navigator, was born on 27th October 1728, in [[Yorkshire]], [[England]]. He died in the Sandwich Islands (now [[Hawaii]]) on 14th February 1779.

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]] 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.)

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]].  

Cook’s third voyage (1776-80)(now as a post-captain and member of the Royal Society) was part of a new effort to find the [[Northwest Passage]]; a navigable route between the [[Atlantic]] and [[Pacific]] oceans across the top of [[Canada]]. Whilst others tackled it from the east, Cook, again in the ''Resolution'' accompanied by HMS ''Discovery'' under Captain Charles Clerke, sailed via [[Cape of Good Hope]], Tasmania and Tahiti for the north Pacific, becoming the [[European]] discoverer of [[Hawaii]]. He explored and charted the north Pacific coasts of North America and [[Siberia]], attempting to push up into the Bering Sea, but failing because of ice. He returned to Hawaii for rest and repairs but got into a fight with the local Hawaiians, and at Kealakekua Bay on 14th February 1779 was killed by them.  

Cook’s third voyage (1776-80)(now as a post-captain and member of the Royal Society) was part of a new effort to find the [[Northwest Passage]]; a navigable route between the [[Atlantic]] and [[Pacific]] oceans across the top of [[Canada]]. Whilst others tackled it from the east, Cook, again in the ''Resolution'' accompanied by HMS ''Discovery'' under Captain Charles Clerke, sailed via [[Cape of Good Hope]], Tasmania and Tahiti for the north Pacific, becoming the [[European]] discoverer of [[Hawaii]]. He explored and charted the north Pacific coasts of North America and [[Siberia]], attempting to push up into the Bering Sea, but failing because of ice. He returned to Hawaii for rest and repairs but got into a fight with the local Hawaiians, and at Kealakekua Bay on 14th February 1779 was killed by them.  

Cook was the consummate “discoverer” in that he was an explorer, navigator, surveyor, cartographer, scientist and leader of men. He was the first to realise the importance of hygiene and diet on board, and whilst his men would grumble at this, it kept them alive on the tiny vessels they were on for months. ("Endeavour" was less than half again as long as Columbus’ "Santa Maria"). His three great voyages to the [[South Seas]] were predominately for scientific reasons and the pursuit of knowledge and his discoveries were shared with the world; even they enabled Britain to replace the loss of one empire with another.

Cook was the consummate “discoverer” in that he was an explorer, navigator, surveyor, cartographer, scientist and leader of men. He was the first to realise the importance of hygiene and diet on board, and whilst his men would grumble at this, it kept them alive on the tiny vessels they were on for months. ("Endeavour" was less than half again as long as Columbus’ "Santa Maria"). His three great voyages to the [[South Seas]] were predominately for scientific reasons and the pursuit of knowledge and his discoveries were shared with the world; even if they enabled Britain to replace the loss of one empire with another.

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