Who was Captain Cook?
Seaman, Explorer, and Cartographer.
Date and Place of Birth:
27th October 1728, Marton in Cleveland, Yorkshire,
England. (Now part of Middlesbrough).
Family Background:
Son of a Scottish migrant farm worker and a local
girl.
Education:
Local School paid for by his father's employer.
Chronology/Biography of Captain Cook:
1745: After many
years helping his father on the farm he left home aged seventeen
and took up an apprenticeship in Staithes, North Yorkshire, at Mr
Sanderson's grocery and haberdasher's shop.
1746: Mr Sanderson
realised his apprenticeship was not suited and transferred him to
the Quaker shipowners, John and Henry Walker at Whitby which is
nearby.
1746: He spent several
years sailing aboard coasters beginning with the collier ship "Freelove"
plying its trade between the Tyne and London.
1752: Promoted to
Mate on the Colllier Brig "Friendship".
1755: Although he
had been a success and even offered the Command of his own craft
he decided to join the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman. As Britain
was rearming for the Seven Years war he felt the chances of a successful
career would be more likely with the military service. (17th June)
Takes up his post on H.M.S. Eagle and quickly promoted to Master's
Mate.
1757: After the
"Eagle was damaged in a skirmish Cook transferred to the 64
Gun Ship of the Line H.M.S. Pembroke. The Captain of the "Eagle",
Hugh Pallister had recognised his talent and he was now warranted
as a Master of the Ship. He was ordered to Canada to survey the
St. Lawrence River to help with the navigation of that area by British
warships. When the main fleet was ordered back to Britain he transferred
to Admiral Colville's flagship.
1762: Moves to the
Mile End Road in London with his new wife.
Statue of Captain Cook near Admiralty Arch, London
(© Anthony Blagg)
1763-67: He began
surveying the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador during the summers
in the Schooner "Grenville" and spent the winters at home
preparing his charts for publication. He gained a reputation for
accuracy which made his maps widely admired.
1768: He is commissioned
as First Lieutenant aboard H.M.S. Endeavour and sailed from Plymouth
on 26th August. He was asked by the Royal Society to take an expedition
to the Pacific, amongst other things, to observe the transit of
Venus across the Sun.
1769: (3rd June)
Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. (7th October) The ship's
boy Nicholas Young sites New Zealand. (18th December) He rounds
the northernmost point of New Zealand and begins exploration of
the West coast.
1770: (28th April)
"Endeavor" reaches Botany Bay in Australia and Cook claims
the land for Britain. (26th August) He rounds the Northern part
of Australia. (11th October ) Arrives in Batavia.
1771: (12th July)
Arrives back in Britain.
1772: (13th July)
He is promoted to Commander and sails again from Plymouth, this
time in H.M.S. Resolution. H.M.S. Adventure is also sent as part
of the expedition.
1773: (17th January)
Crosses the Antarctic Circle. (15th August) The ships reach Tahiti.
("4th September) They Discover the Hervey Islands. (3rd November)
"Resolution" and "Adventure" become separated.
1774: (12th March)
Cook arrives at Easter Island. (10th October) Discovers Norfolk
Island.
1775: (30th July)
Arrives back in Britain.
1776: (12th July)
Sets sail from Plymouth again in H.M.S. Resolution but this time
with H.M.S. Discovery in the expedition. He is charged with discovering
a passage around the north coast of America from the Pacific.
1777: (12th February)
Arrives in New Zealand. (29th April) Arrives in Tonga. (11th August)
Arrives in Tahiti. (24th December) Discovers the Christmas Island.
1778: (7th February)
Sights the coast of Oregon in North America. (8th August) Cook crosses
the Bering Strait which separates North America form the main continental
landmass. (26th November) Arrives back in Hawaii were he is greeted
with enthusiasm and takes part in a ceremony which the locals think
make him a god.
1779: (4th February)
Leaves Kealakekua Bay but has to return four days later due to damage
to the ship. The local people were at first friendly but on the
14th February he set ashore on Kealakekua Beach to retrieve a ship's
boat which had been stolen by the inhabitants. A priest felled him
with his club as he wished to show that he was a mortal and then
he was set upon by the mob and several daggers plunged into him.
Several of Cook's marines were also killed in the melee. Clerke,
now in charge, stopped his men from taking reprisals and collected
all that remained of Cook when things had calmed down. He then went
on to try and finish Cook's work but was thwarted and set sail for
Britain once more, unfortunately dying enroute. The ships reached
port in Plymouth harbour on the 4th October.
Marriage:
21st December 1762 to Elizabeth Batts after a
brief courtship at St. Margaret's Church, Barking, London.
Places of Interest:
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
The Vache, Cook Memorial by Palliser, Chalfont
St. Giles.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
St Andrew the Great Church, Cambridge has marble
memorial on walls and also the graves of Elizabeth his wife and
two children James and Hugh.
CLEVELAND:
James Cook Birthplace Museum, Stewart Park, Marton,
Middlesbrough.
St. Cuthbert's Church, Marton has stained glass window memorial.
Captain Cook Heritage Trail.
"Bottle of Notes" Sculpture, Middlesbrough.
Cleveland Centre, Middlesbrough has a model of the Endeavour and
a map of the world showing its route.
Endeavour replica held on River Tees at Stockton-on-Tees.
DEVON:
58 Notte Street, Plymouth has a plaque commemorating
Cook's visit before Endeavour voyage.
LONDON:
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.( Also has
full Statue outside the Queen's House).
Full Statue, The Mall.
89 Mile End Road, Plaque marks site of Cook's house at 7 Assembly
Row.
St Paul's Church, Shadwell, holds baptismal records of Cook's son
James.
340 Highway, Shadwell, plaque marks site of Cook's house at 126
Upper Shadwell.
YORKSHIRE:
Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Grape Lane, Whitby.
Resolution Project, Whitby.
Full Statue, West Cliff, Whitby.
All Saint's Church, Great Ayton has graves of his mother and five
of his brothers and sisters.
Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum, 101 High Street, Great Ayton.
Captain Cook Obelisk, Easby Moor, Great Ayton.
Statue of Cook as a boy, Upper Green, Great Ayton.
Captain Cook Heritage Centre, Staithes.
SCOTLAND:
Plaque marking visit of ships Resolution and
Discovery, Stromness, Orkney.
Date and Place of Death:
14th February 1779, Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii.
Age at Death:
50.
Site of Grave:
Remains committed to the sea off Hawaii.
