James Cook is one of the most famous English navigators, who was born in 1728 into a poor farming family. This brave traveler was able to cross the globe three times and discover several islands and archipelagos.
Discoveries of James Cook
The expedition of 1768 turned out to be a huge success for James Cook, because during it he discovered Australia. He made a thorough exploration of its east coast. He also discovered the Great Barrier Reef, which is famous all over the world today.
Already at the beginning of 1772, James Cook assembled a new expedition. During it, he decided to set sail in the Pacific Ocean. His main goal was to find the southern mainland. The result of this large-scale expedition was a swim in the Amundsen Sea, a three-time crossing of the Antarctic Circle and the discovery of the South Sandwich Islands, which were described in detail by the navigator and subsequently marked on the map.
Cook's third expedition took place in 1776-1779. During this time, he managed to discover and map the Hawaiian Islands, and also obtained indisputable evidence that there is a strait between Asia and America. However, it was this expedition that cost the navigator his life. During it, the natives attacked Cook and took him prisoner, where he was killed. Later they gave the crew members his body, which was given to the sea.
Find out more about how James Cook discovered Australia and why he gave it that name in our other articles.
Cook James(1728-1779) - English navigator.
He was born into a day laborer's family and received only a modest school education. Cook worked as an assistant in a grocery store, then as a sailor. In 1757, he voluntarily entered the service in the navy. Cook's extraordinary abilities allowed him to receive the title of navigator two years later. For a long time he worked as a topographer in difficult natural conditions, where he researched and surveyed the coast. As a result of this, several dozens were created, which became the result of five years of research.
On his first expedition to the expanses of the southern seas, Cook sets off at the age of 40 with the rank of lieutenant. Its purpose is astronomical observations of the passage of Venus through the solar disk. It was supposed to take place in early June 1769, and it could only be observed in the region of the Southern Tropic. This is how the official part of the expedition was formulated. But there is another, more important one: it was necessary to find out whether the Southern Land () really exists, and if so, then it should become the property of the crown. But as a result of his first trip, Cook fails to verify the existence of the mainland. Nevertheless, the expedition discovered and explored many, explored the east, declaring it a colony of England.
The question arises of organizing another expedition. Exactly one year after his return, Cook sets off on his second expedition, and only after three years will he see the shores of England again. During this journey, the expedition for the first time in the world crossed the Antarctic Circle, and only some hundred kilometers separated them from Antarctica. However, it was impossible to move on. Now Cook could declare with complete certainty: there is no unknown Southern land. He writes: "I went around in high latitudes and crossed it in such a way that there was no space left where the mainland could be, except near the pole in places inaccessible to navigation." But in reality, the unknown southern land existed, and Cook's incorrect conclusions greatly hampered further study of the Antarctic spaces.
During the second expedition, Cook mapped several new islands and visited the mysterious Easter Island.
In July 1776, Cook sets out on his third and last journey, from which he was not destined to return. The purpose of this expedition is to find a passage from to in the northern latitudes. For a long time he was lucky. Following along the east coast, the ships reach Alaska. But the search for a passage turns out to be futile: impenetrable ice blocks the path. For almost three months, Cook wanders in the subpolar latitudes; during this period he manages to refine the map. In 1778, the ships turn back and in January 1779 they reach the Hawaiian Islands. Their discovery was the most important achievement of the third expedition.
The inhabitants of the islands, outraged by the behavior of the sailors and officers, killed J. Cook. There are conflicting accounts of how he died. On February 22, 1779, the mortal remains of James Cook were put to sea. It was a tragic end to the life of one of the greatest navigators in the history of mankind.
Who is James Cook?
Navigator, cartographer, explorer and discoverer.
The leading specialist of his time on the Pacific Ocean and especially its southern part.
Explored and mapped the territory of the Gulf and the St. Lawrence River (Canada).
He made three round-the-world voyages on the instructions of the British Admiralty for military scientific purposes.
The first explorer of the southern polar seas and Antarctica.
In Russia, his surname is widely known thanks to the song of Vladimir Vysotsky
"Why did the aborigines eat Cook"
Cook did not discover new continents, new oceans, or unknown routes, like the first explorers of the Age of Discovery. But his name among geographers and researchers is in the most honorable place.
James Cook (English James Cook)born November 7, 1728. Cook's entire biography can be divided into 5 periods
Childhood, youth, sailing on commercial ships.
To the military fleet and exploration of the Gulf and the St. Lawrence River
First round the world expedition
Second round-the-world expedition
Third round-the-world expedition
Historians say that D. Cook came from a family of a farm laborer, was born in the village of Marton in North Yorkshire. By origin - Scottish. From an early age, he was forced to earn his own bread. Accustomed to work, inquisitive, smart and responsible - this was how young James could be characterized.
In search of a better life, the Cook family moves to the village of Great Ayton. This happened in 1736. James starts school. Today, this school houses the J. Cook Museum. After studying for five years, the young man starts working on his father's farm. Soon realizing that working on a farm you can’t go out to people or see the world, Cook, at the age of 18, is hired as a cabin boy for a coal miner called Hercules (according to other sources, Frilav, shipowners of the Walker brothers. The ship was a typical coal carrier. Having sailed on it two (!) years, Cook was transferred to the Three Brothers ship for diligence and diligence.
Those who at that time communicated with J. Cook confirm that Cook spent all his free time reading books, studying mathematics, astronomy, geography and especially navigation on his own. In addition, he was very interested in descriptions of sea expeditions.
After Cook decided to go to the Baltic Sea on other ships, but three years later he returned to the Walker brothers again. In 1755, Cook took the post of assistant captain on the ship "Friendship". Then the shipowners made him an offer to become a captain, but Cook refuses.
More pages about James Cook and his expedition
More Travelers of the Age of Discovery
Date of birth: October 27, 1728
Date of death: February 14, 1779
Birthplace: Yorkshire, England
James Cook- the famous traveler. James Cook(James Cook), was one of the most daring sailors of his time. He traveled, discovered new lands and made geographical maps.
James was born into a poor working-class family. After studying for five years at school, he was sent as a worker on a farm. The work on the land did not particularly attract the young man, and at the age of 18 he became a hired cabin boy on a ship carrying coal. Cook's owners were the Walker brothers, with whom he worked for about three years.
While working, the young researcher was constantly engaged in self-education, studied the basics of such sciences as navigation, astronomy, mathematics, geography. He did all this on his own, with only books as assistants.
After several years working for the Walkers, Cook was asked to become the captain of the Friendship. Cook refused this lucrative offer, deciding to devote himself to the navy. The young sailor had to start all over again, from the position of a simple sailor. He hired him on a warship with more than fifty guns. Experience in the merchant marine did not go unnoticed and a month after the start of work, Cook became the boatswain of the ship "Eagle".
Since the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the fleet has been actively involved in naval battles. "Eagle" is no exception - he is a participant in the blockade of the French coast. He also took part in naval battles. After one of them, with the French "Duke of Aquitaine", the ship goes for repairs.
After two years of practice on a warship, Cook easily passes the Sailing Master exam and moves on to a larger vessel.
During the hostilities in the Bay of Biscay, Cook performs an extremely difficult task related to cartographic surveys. Cook successfully completed it, which was one of the reasons for appointing him to the round-the-world expedition.
After continuing to work at the mouth of the Canadian St. Lawrence River, Cooke gained invaluable experience in mapping and in 1762 returned to England.
In the same place, the marriage with E. Butts soon took place. The couple subsequently had six children.
In 1767, Cook became the main contender for the post of leader of the expedition. The declared goal was astronomical research, but in fact England needed new lands. In order to discover them, an expedition was sent. The ship was specially converted for her. The Endeavor set sail for uncharted shores in August 1768.
Eight months later, the ship approached the shores of Tahiti. Cook was one of the few travelers at the time who treated the natives with respect. He tried to avoid violence, murders, and this was noted by the locals with gratitude.
This went on exactly until the time when two sailors from the ship deserted. Only pressure on the elders helped bring them back to the ship.
Nevertheless, one of the local leaders accompanied the team off the coast of New Zealand. There were frequent and bloody skirmishes with the local population.
The hostilities did not prevent the opening of the Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand.
In 1770 the ship reached the east coast of Australia. A huge number of previously undescribed plants were found there. Since then, the bay has been called "Botanical".
Soon problems began - the ship was damaged and practically could not continue sailing. The crew members somehow patched up the holes, and Cook decided to continue exploring the coast along the Great Barrier Reef. The result was the opening of the strait separating Australia and New Guinea. Through the Strait, Cook led the ship to Indonesia. Scurvy, malaria and intestinal infections led to the death of most of the crew. In 1771 the ship returned to England.
A year later, the second journey began. His goal was a thorough exploration of the South Seas. It was desirable to do this before the French. Two ships of 1772 set off on an opal voyage. Six months later, they crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time. After that, the storm separated the ships and they met after a long time already in Charlotte Bay.
This was followed by a visit to Tahiti, Friendship Islands, parking in Charlotte Bay. The way back lay through Easter Island, and again Tahiti. New Caledonia was discovered in 1774. Three years after the start of the journey, Cook returned to England.
Less than a year later, the two ships again went to the open sea. In 1777, Christmas Island was discovered, and a year later, Hawaii. Then the path lay to the northern latitudes, where the Bering Strait was described.
The next destination was the Hawaiian Islands. Relations with the natives did not work out, and on February 14, 1779, Cook was killed in a skirmish with the local population. His remains were buried at sea.
Achievements of James Cook:
Participated as a leader in three round-the-world expeditions
During the expeditions, new species of plants and animals were described, the customs of the inhabitants of new lands were described.
Made many discoveries in the field of geography, astronomy, biology and botany
Dates from the biography of James Cook:
1728 was born in England, in the village of Marton
1736 began schooling
1746 began working as a cabin boy
1755 left work in the merchant marine and moved to the navy
1762 began cartographic research in North America
1771 appointed commander of the expedition
1775 returned from the second expedition
1776 third expedition
1779 died at the hands of aborigines
Interesting James Cook Facts:
One of the first explorers who tried to be friendly to the inhabitants of the new lands, bartering and buying what they needed, rather than taking them by force and killing them.
Some of the maps compiled by Cook's team remained in use until the end of the 19th century.
The first of the captains who learned how to deal with mortality among crew members from a lack of vitamin C.
He used maps compiled by the Aleuts and Russian industrialists to describe the lands between America and Eurasia.
There are a large number of monuments and obelisks in all parts of the world dedicated to Cook.
It is enough for a modern person to order a ticket at the airport ticket office to move to the other end of the world. But it wasn't always like that. Only six centuries ago, the continents of the Western Hemisphere and many of the islands of the South Seas were missing from the maps. The golden period in the history of geographical discoveries fell on the 15th-19th centuries.
Thanks to the fearlessness of the Genoese Christopher Columbus, Russian officers Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev, new continents were discovered - America and Antarctica, and in 1788 the existence of another continent - Australia was finally proved. The fate of an English navy sailor who has been looking for the mysterious "Southern Land" for a long time is connected with the name of this country. So, the hero of our story is James Cook. The short biography of the navigator is very rich, eventful, and fascinating. Many still remember his discoveries from school. For those who have forgotten, or schoolchildren who are just beginning to explore the fascinating world of geography, it will be useful to at least briefly familiarize themselves with the information about the main milestones in the life of this brave man. So what did fate have in store for him?
James Cook: a short biography and what he discovered
On January 7, 1728, in the village of Marton Cleveland, Yorkshire, England, a son, James Cook, was born to a Scots farm laborer. From an early age, the boy showed his intelligence and curiosity. But the well-being of the family did not allow for a good education. From adolescence, he began to help his father by working on the farm. The only chance to see the world was the job of a cabin boy on the trading brig-coal miner "Hercules". So, at the age of 18, a young man named James Cook began his maritime career, whose biography serves as an example for many sailors to follow.
Thanks to diligence and discipline, two years later he was transferred to the ship "Three Brothers". The sailor devoted his free time from the watch to the study of navigation, astronomy and geography. He was especially interested in the descriptions of the voyages of famous explorers. Working on a merchant ship, associated with the transportation of coal, was not interesting, he was attracted by unfamiliar countries.
Naval career
On June 17, 1755, James Cook, whose biography and discoveries were associated with service in the Royal Navy, took the first step towards his dream. He turned down the prospect of becoming captain of the merchant ship Friendship and went as a simple sailor to the warship Eagle. The experience gained while working with the Walker shipowners helped him to become a boatswain in the shortest possible time (in just a month!) and two years later Cook was appointed master. In 1758, James Cook, whose biography will henceforth resemble a map of sea expeditions, sets off on the first great voyage to the coast of North America.
But this was not an ordinary walk, but a raid on a warship during the Seven Years' War between England and France. The main goal of this struggle was the interception of overseas possessions. At that time, the colonies of the eternal rival of Britain exceeded the size of the overseas territories of England and Spain. Thanks to the knowledge of navigation and mapping abilities of James Cook, the fairway of the St. Lawrence River was laid, which helped the British win the struggle for Canadian lands.
First trip around the world
For such maritime powers as England, Spain, France, Portugal and Holland, the discovery of new lands was not the result of love for the unknown. These countries primarily pursued their own mercantile interests, the main of which was the replenishment of the state treasury through the development of gold deposits and other minerals. The British Admiralty, on the orders of the monarchy, sent naval vessels in search of unknown lands.
On August 26, 1768, the English sailing ship Endeavor left Plymouth and crossed the Atlantic. Rounding the coast of South America, he went through the Drake Strait into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. For 3 years of the first trip around the world, James Cook discovered that New Zealand consists of two islands, and the strait between them still bears the name of the discoverer. He also studied and mapped the east coast of Australia.
Second trip around the world
Less than a month after returning to his homeland, as James Cook, whose biography will henceforth be connected with the interests of the British Admiralty, again went on a sea expedition for the next three years. This time, the Resolution ship became his home, followed by another ship, the Adventure. The goal was the same as in the first journey: the discovery of new lands.
The route of the expedition ran past the coast of Africa to the southern latitudes, but the ships did not reach Antarctica due to a storm. During the wanderings in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, many archipelagos were discovered, and the size of the Adventure crew decreased by 8 people as a result of an attack by cannibal natives on one of the islands.
On the last journey
The third and last round-the-world expedition of the indefatigable Briton started in the summer of 1776. He was tasked with discovering a sea route that could lead to North America across the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. This time, James Cook had the flagship Resolution and the ship Discovery at his disposal. For six months they reached the shores of Tasmania. After passing along the coast of Tahiti, the ships went north.
On January 18, 1778, the islands now known as the Hawaiian Islands were discovered. But James Cook originally gave them a different name - Sandwich. From there, the ships reached their destination. From America, the expedition went to the Arctic, crossed the Arctic Circle. The sailboats could not pass through the ice of the Chukchi Sea, and therefore it was decided to return in a proven way.
On November 26, 1778, travelers moored at the Sandwich Islands, and almost three months later, James Cook and several crew members were treacherously killed by the natives. On February 22, 1779, the remains of Captain James Cook were delivered to the elements of the sea.
