Traveler James Cook short biography. English navigator and discoverer James Cook. Biography, travel history

The famous English sailor, explorer and discoverer - James Cook was a captain in the Royal Navy and the Royal Society. This amazing man put many places on the map. Cook devoted a huge amount of time to cartography. Therefore, almost all maps compiled by a meticulous sailor are accurate and accurate. For many years, maps served sailors until about the 19th century.

Childhood and youth

James was born on October 27, 1728 in the village of Marton. Based on historical information, the father was a poor Scottish farm laborer. When James was 8 years old, the family of the future sailor moved to Great Ayton, where he entered the local school. Today the school has become a museum in honor of James Cook.

After 5 years of study, the boy began working on a farm, where his father received the position of manager. When James turned 18, he was hired as a cabin boy on the Hercules. This was the beginning of the naval career of the young and ambitious Cook.

Trips

James worked on ships owned by John and Henry Walker. In his free time, the young man independently studied geography, navigation, mathematics and astronomy by reading books. The traveler Cook left for 2 years, which he spent in the Baltic and the east of England. At the request of the Walker brothers, he decided to return to the position of assistant captain on the Friendship. After 3 years, James was offered to take command of the ship, but he refused.

Instead, Cook enlists as a sailor in the Royal Navy and after 8 days is assigned to the ship Eagle. This biographical fact is puzzling: it is not clear why the young man chose the hard work of a sailor over the captain's post. But after a month, Cook takes over as boatswain.

Soon, in 1756, the Seven Years' War begins, the ship Eagle takes part in the blockade of the French coast. As a result of the battle with the ship "Duke of Aquitaine", "Eagle" receives a victory, but is forced to leave for repairs in England. In 1757, James passed the captain's exam, and on his 29th birthday he was assigned to the ship Solebey.

When Quebec was taken, James was transferred to the position of captain on the ship Northumberland, which was considered a professional promotion. Under the admiral's orders, Cook continued mapping the St. Lawrence River until 1762. Maps published in 1765.

Three expeditions

James led three voyages, they are an invaluable contribution to the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe world.

The first expedition lasted three years, the official purpose of which was to study the passage of Venus through the Sun. But secret orders ordered Cook, after completing his observations, to go in search of the Southern Continent.

Since at that time world states were fighting for new colonies, historians suggest that astronomical observations are a screen designed to cover up the search for new colonies. The expedition had another goal - to establish the shores of the east coast of Australia.

As a result of the expedition, the goal was achieved, but the information obtained was not useful due to inaccurate indicators. The second task, the discovery of the mainland, was not completed. The southern continent was discovered by Russian sailors in 1820. It has been proven that New Zealand is two separate islands that are separated by a strait (note - Cook Strait). It was possible to bring in part of the eastern coast of Austria, which had not been explored before.

The second voyage and the specific purpose set for James are unknown. The task of the expedition is to explore the southern seas. It is safe to say that the advance to the south was accompanied by James’s desire to find the Southern Continent. Most likely, Cook acted not only on the basis of personal initiatives.

The goal of the third expedition was to open the North-Western Waterway, but it was not achieved. But Hawaii and Christmas Island were discovered.

Personal life

James Cook returned to England in 1762. After this, on December 21 of the same year, the sailor married Elizabeth Butts. They had six children, James and Elizabeth lived in east London. The first child, who was named James, lived to be 31 years old. The lives of the rest are relatively short: two children lived to be 17 years old, one child lived to be 4, and two more did not live even a year.

The deaths, one after another, struck Mrs. Cook. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth lived another 56 years, dying at the age of 93. His wife admired James and measured everything by his honor and moral convictions. When Elizabeth wanted to show disapproval, she said that "Mr. Cook would never do that." Before her death, Mrs. Cook tried to destroy personal papers and correspondence with her beloved husband, believing that the contents were too sacred for prying eyes. She was buried in the family vault in Cambridge.

Death

On his third and final expedition, on January 16, 1779, James landed in the Hawaiian Islands. The inhabitants of the island concentrated around the ships. The navigator estimated them at several thousand; the Hawaiians accepted Cook as their God. At first, good relations were established between the crew and the residents, but the number of thefts committed by the Hawaiians increased. The clashes that arose became increasingly heated.

Feeling the tension in the situation, the crew left the bay on February 4, but the ships suffered serious damage due to the storm. On February 10, the ships were forced to return, but the attitude of the Hawaiians was already openly hostile. On February 13, pincers were stolen from the deck. The return attempt was unsuccessful and ended in a collision.

The next morning, the longboat was stolen; Cook wanted to return the property by trying to take the leader hostage. When James, surrounded by his men, led the leader on board, he refused to go right at the shore. At this point, rumors spread among the Hawaiians that the British were killing local residents, provoking hostilities. Captain James Cook and four sailors died at the hands of the Hawaiians during these events on February 14, 1779.

Memory

As a tribute to the memory of the great sailor James Cook:

• Cook Strait, which divides New Zealand, was discovered by James in 1769. Before the discovery of the sailor Abel Tasman, it was considered a bay.
• An archipelago in the Pacific Ocean is named after the sailor.

• The spacecraft module was named after Cook's first vessel. During the flight, the fourth landing of people on the Moon was carried out.
• The monument to James Cook was unveiled in 1932, on August 10th, in Victoria Square in Christchurch. The idea to immortalize the great navigator belongs to local bookmaker and philanthropist Matthew Barnett. He organized the competition project, and then independently paid for the work of the talented sculptor William Thesebey and donated the monument to the city.

• A crater on the Moon that was named after a sailor in 1935.
• dedicated a small comic essay to the captain.

Now Cook's legacy is his diaries, which are of particular interest to researchers today. James's biography has a lot of colorful episodes, and the captain himself is rightfully considered an outstanding discoverer.

James Cook

James Cook (English James Cook; October 27, 1728, Marton, Yorkshire, England - February 14, 1779, Hawaii) - English naval sailor, explorer, cartographer and discoverer, member of the Royal Society and captain of the Royal Navy. He led three expeditions to explore the World Ocean, all around the world. During these expeditions he made a number of geographical discoveries. He explored and mapped little-known and previously rarely visited parts of Newfoundland and the east coast of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the west coast of North America, the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Thanks to the attention that Cook paid to cartography, many of the maps he compiled were unsurpassed in their accuracy and precision for many decades and served navigators until the second half of the 19th century.
Cook was known for his tolerant and friendly attitude towards the indigenous people of the territories he visited. He made a kind of revolution in navigation, having learned to successfully fight such a dangerous and widespread disease at that time as scurvy. Mortality from it during his voyages was practically reduced to zero. A whole galaxy of famous navigators and explorers took part in his voyages, such as Joseph Banks, William Bligh, George Vancouver, George Dixon, Johann Reingold and Georg Forster.

Childhood and youth
James Cook was born on October 27, 1728 in the village of Marton (South Yorkshire). His father, a poor Scottish farmhand, had four children in addition to James. In 1736, the family moved to the village of Great Ayton, where Cook was sent to a local school (now converted into a museum). After five years of study, James Cook begins working on the farm under the supervision of his father, who by that time had received the position of manager. At the age of eighteen, he is hired as a cabin boy for the Hercules Walker coal miner. Thus begins the sea life of James Cook.

Carier start
Cook began his sailor's career as a simple cabin boy on the merchant coal brig Hercules, owned by shipowners John and Henry Walker, on the London-Newcastle route. Two years later he was transferred to another Walker ship, the Three Brothers.

There is evidence from Walker's friends about how much time Cook spent reading books. He devoted his free time from work to the study of geography, navigation, mathematics, astronomy, and he was also interested in descriptions of sea expeditions. It is known that Cook left the Walkers for two years, which he spent in the Baltic and off the east coast of England, but returned at the request of the brothers as assistant captain on the Friendship.

Three years later, in 1755, the Walkers offered him command of Friendship, but Cook refused. Instead, on June 17, 1755, he enlisted as a sailor in the Royal Navy and eight days later was assigned to the 60-gun ship Eagle. This fact in his biography puzzles some researchers - the reasons why Cook preferred hard sailor work to a captain's position in the merchant fleet are unknown. But a month after admission, Cook becomes a boatswain.

Soon the Seven Years' War began (1756). "Eagle" took part in the blockade of the French coast. It is also known that in May 1757, off the island of Ouessant, the Eagle entered into battle with the French ship Duke of Aquitaine (displacement 1,500 tons, 50 guns). During the pursuit and battle, the Duke of Aquitaine was captured. The Eagle was damaged in that battle and was forced to go to England for repairs.

Upon reaching two years of experience, in 1757, James Cook successfully passed the Sailing Master exam, and on October 27 he was assigned to the ship Solebey under the command of Captain Craig. Cook was twenty-nine years old at this time. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, he is assigned to the 60-gun ship Pembroke. The Pembroke took part in the blockade of the Bay of Biscay, then in February 1758 it was sent to the North American coast (Canada).

Cook was given the most important task, which was key to the capture of Quebec, to clear the fairway of the St. Lawrence River so that British ships could pass to Quebec. This task included not only drawing the fairway on the map, but also marking navigable sections of the river with buoys. On the one hand, due to the extreme complexity of the fairway, the volume of work was very large, on the other hand, they had to work at night, under fire from French artillery, fighting off night counterattacks, restoring buoys that the French managed to destroy. The successful completion of the work enriched Cook with cartographic experience, and was also one of the main reasons why the Admiralty ultimately chose him as its historical choice. Quebec was besieged and then taken. Cook did not take part directly in the hostilities. After the capture of Quebec, Cook was transferred as a master to the flagship Northumberland, which can be regarded as a professional encouragement. Under orders from Admiral Colville, Cook continued mapping the St. Lawrence River until 1762. Cook's charts were recommended for publication by Admiral Colville and were published in the 1765 North American Navigation. Cook returned to England in November 1762.

Shortly after returning from Canada, on December 21, 1762, Cook married Elizabeth Butts. They had six children: James (1763-1794), Nathaniel (1764-1781), Elizabeth (1767-1771), Joseph (1768-1768), George (1772-1772) and Hugh (1776-1793). ). The family lived in the East End of London. Little is known about Elizabeth's life after Cook's death. She lived after his death for another 56 years and died in December 1835 at the age of 93.

The first circumnavigation of the world (1767-1771)

Cook's first (red), second (green) and third (blue) expeditions
Expedition goals
The official purpose of the expedition was to study the passage of Venus through the disk of the Sun. However, in secret orders received by Cook, he was instructed to immediately after completing astronomical observations go to the southern latitudes in search of the so-called Southern Continent (also known as Terra Incognita). Considering that there was a fierce struggle between world powers for new colonies, the following assumption is very likely: astronomical observations served as a screen for the Admiralty to cover the search for new colonies. Also, the purpose of the expedition was to establish the coasts of Australia, especially its eastern coast, which was completely unexplored.

Expedition composition
The following reasons can be identified that influenced the Admiralty’s choice in favor of Cook:

Cook was a sailor, and therefore subordinate to the Admiralty, which needed its own man as the head of the expedition. It was for this reason that Alexander Dalrymple, who also claimed this title, was disadvantageous to the Admiralty.
Cook was not just a sailor, but an experienced sailor.
Even among experienced sailors, Cook stood out for his extensive experience in cartography and navigation, as evidenced by his successful work in measuring the fairway of the St. Lawrence River. This experience was confirmed by the actual admiral (Colville), who, recommending Cook's work for publication, described Cook as follows: “Knowing from experience the talent of Mr. Cook and his abilities, I consider him sufficiently qualified for the work that he performed, and for the largest enterprises of the same kind."
The expedition was allocated the Endeavor, a small ship belonging to the class of so-called “coal miners” (so named because ships of this class were mainly used for transporting coal), with a characteristically shallow draft, converted specifically for the expedition.

The botanists were Karl Solander and Joseph Banks, a member of the Royal Society and its future president, who was also a very wealthy man. Artists: Alexander Buchan and Sydney Parkinson. Astronomer Green was to carry out observations with Cook. The ship's doctor was Dr. Monkhouse.

Progress of the expedition

Reconstruction of Endeavor. Photo

Image of a New Zealand pirogue from Cook's Journal, 1769, artist unknown

From left to right: Daniel Solander, Joseph Banks, James Cook, John Hawksford and Lord Sandwich. Painting. Author - John Hamilton Mortimer, 1771
On August 26, 1768, Endeavor left Plymouth and reached the shores of Tahiti on April 10, 1769. Fulfilling orders from the Admiralty requiring “to maintain friendship with the natives by all means,” Cook established strict discipline in the communication of the expedition members and the ship’s crew with the natives. It was strictly forbidden to enter into conflicts with local residents or use violence. Any cases of violation of this order were severely punished. Fresh food for the expedition was obtained through exchange for European goods. Such behavior of the British, albeit dictated by purely pragmatic considerations (it was simply unprofitable to incite excessive self-hatred), was nonsense at that time - the Europeans, as a rule, achieved their goals with the use of violence, robbing and killing the aborigines (there were also cases of wanton killings) . For example, Wallis, Cook's compatriot, who visited Tahiti shortly before him, in response to the refusal to supply his ship with food for free, fired at Tahitian villages with naval artillery. But the peaceful policy bore fruit - good relations were established with the islanders, without which observation of Venus would have been seriously difficult.

In order to ensure control over the coast, where observations were to be carried out, a fort was built, surrounded on three sides by a rampart, in places by a palisade and a ditch, protected by two cannons and six falconets, with a garrison of 45 people. On the morning of May 2, it was discovered that the only quadrant, without which the experiment was impossible, had been stolen. By the evening of the same day, the quadrant was found.

From June 7 to 9, the team was busy heeling the ship. On July 9, shortly before sailing, Marines Clement Webb and Samuel Gibson deserted. Faced with the reluctance of the islanders to contribute to the capture of the deserters, Cook took hostage all the most significant leaders of the area and put forward the return of the fugitives as a condition for their release. The leaders were released when, with the help of local residents, the soldiers were returned to the ship.

After making astronomical observations, Cook headed to the shores of New Zealand, taking with him a local chief named Tupia, who knew the nearby islands well and, in addition, could serve as a translator, and his servant Tiata. It was not possible to establish good relations with the aborigines of New Zealand, despite the emphasized peacefulness of the British. The expedition had to participate in several skirmishes, during which the New Zealanders suffered some losses.

Continuing to move along the western coast, Cook found a bay very convenient for anchorage. In this bay, which he named Queen Charlotte Bay, the Endeavor was undergoing repairs: the ship was pulled ashore and re-caulked. Here, on the shore of Queen Charlotte Bay, a discovery was made - having risen to a hill, Cook saw the strait dividing New Zealand into two islands. This strait was named after him (Cook Strait or Cook Strait).
Image of a kangaroo, from illustrations for the journal of the Endeavour's voyage
In April 1770, Cook approached the eastern coast of Australia. On the shore of the bay, in the waters of which Endeavor stopped, the expedition managed to find many previously unknown species of plants, so Cook called this bay Botanical. From Botany Bay, Cook headed northwest along the east coast of Australia.

On June 11, the ship ran aground, seriously damaging the hull. Thanks to the tide and the measures taken to lighten the ship (spare rigging parts, ballast and guns were thrown overboard), the Endeavor was able to be refloated. However, the ship began to quickly fill with water through the damaged side plating. In order to block the flow of water, canvas was placed under the hole, thus the flow of sea water was reduced to an acceptable level. Nevertheless, the Endeavor was in need of serious repairs, since in its current position, uninterrupted operation of the pumping units was required to keep the ship afloat, not to mention the fact that it was simply dangerous to continue sailing with a huge hole in the side, barely covered by the sail. And Cook begins to look for a place where it would be safe to stand for repairs. After 6 days such a place was found. The Endeavor was pulled ashore and the holes were repaired. It soon became clear that the ship was cut off from the sea by the Great Barrier Reef, so the expedition found itself locked in a narrow strip of water between the Australian coast and the Reef, dotted with shoals and underwater rocks.

Rounding the Reef, we had to go north 360 miles. We had to move slowly, constantly throwing the lot, and the incoming water had to be pumped out of the hold without stopping. In addition, scurvy began on the ship. But Cook continued to follow this path, ignoring the gaps that appeared from time to time in the solid wall of the Reef. The fact is that the coast, gradually moving away from the Great Barrier Reef, might one day be inaccessible to observation from the open sea, which did not suit Cook at all, who wanted to keep the Australian coast before his eyes. This persistence bore fruit - continuing to follow between the Reef and the coast, Cook came across a strait between New Guinea and Australia (at that time they did not know whether New Guinea was an island or part of the Australian mainland).

Cook sent the ship through this strait to Batavia (the old name of Jakarta). In Indonesia, malaria entered a ship. In Batavia, where the Endeavor arrived in early January, the disease assumed the character of an epidemic. Tupia and Tiatu also became victims of malaria. The ship was immediately put into repairs, immediately after which Cook left Batavia with its unhealthy climate. However, people continued to die.

On the island of Panaitan, dysentery was added to malaria, which from then on became the main cause of death. When the Endeavor entered the port of Cape Town on March 14, there were 12 people left on the ship capable of working. The losses in personnel were extremely high; on the way from Batavia to Cape Town alone, 22 crew members died (mainly from dysentery), as well as several civilians, including astronomer Green. To make further voyage possible, the crew was supplemented. On July 12, 1771, the expedition returned to England.

Results of the first expedition
The main stated goal - observing the passage of Venus through the disk of the Sun - was completed, and the results of the experiment, despite the inaccuracies of measurements caused by the imperfection of the equipment of that time, were subsequently used (together with four more similar observations from other points on the planet) for a completely accurate calculation distances from the Earth to the Sun.

The second task - the discovery of the Southern Continent - was not completed, and, as is now known, could not have been completed by Cook during his first voyage. (The southern continent was discovered by Russian sailors Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev in 1820).

The expedition also proved that New Zealand is two independent islands, separated by a narrow strait (Cook Strait), and not part of an unknown mainland, as was previously believed. It was possible to map several hundred miles of the eastern coast of Australia, which had been completely unexplored until then. A strait was opened between Australia and New Guinea. Botanists have collected a large collection of biological samples.

Second circumnavigation of the world (1772-1774)
In 1772, the Admiralty began preparations for a second expedition to the Pacific Ocean.

Expedition goals
The specific objectives that the Admiralty set for Cook's second expedition are unknown. It is only known that the tasks of the expedition included continuing the exploration of the southern seas. Most definitely, Cook's persistent attempts to penetrate as far south as possible were aimed at finding the Southern Continent. It is unlikely that Cook acted in this way solely on the basis of personal initiative, so it seems very likely that the discovery of the Southern Continent was one of the goals of the expedition, although nothing is known about such plans by the Admiralty.

The second expedition of J. Cook (1772-1775) was associated with geographical and political problems put on the agenda at the initial stage of European expansion into the seas of the southern hemisphere. The organization of Cook's second expedition, carried out after returning to his homeland as a captain, was associated with the great activity that the French showed in the southern seas at that time. At least four French expeditions were sent in the late sixties to search for the southern mainland. They are associated with the names of Bougainville, Surville, Marion du Fresne, Kerguelen. The French search for the southern continent was also not driven by scientific interests. The initiative came from the merchant French East India Company, which, of course, cared only about its own enrichment; It was she who equipped Surville's expedition in the same way as in the first half of the 18th century - Bouvet's expedition, which Cook mentions. The results of these French expeditions (except for the Bougainville expedition) in London were not yet known and were all the more alarmed. It was decided to send two ships (the French sent 2-3 ships together) and put Captain Cook at the head of the new expedition, whose successes made a huge impression in England. The Admiralty was in such a hurry with this matter that Cook was given, after compiling a detailed report on the first voyage, only three weeks of rest (in December 1771) - after a three-year voyage.

Of course, the Royal Society had a hand in this - it was considered a semi-governmental organization and was a powerful force in society. Undoubtedly, Cook's own position was far from passive in this matter: like all great pioneers, once he had tasted the joy and satisfaction of penetrating into the unknown, he would never rest until he had taken that path again. There is no doubt that the leading geographers of the time, especially Alexander Dalrymple, who continued to believe in his idea of ​​​​the Southern Continent, would have rushed to organize a second expedition. But everyone understands that only the Lords of the Admiralty really made decisions. They thought of the possibility that Cook might actually come across the mythical Southern Continent, or some other country or island hitherto undiscovered, and annex it with his usual efficiency to the British Crown; an intriguingly pleasant and not at all impossible thought, since the South Seas remained largely unexplored. It is more likely that they told Cook that he must go on another heroic voyage of discovery - no matter in which direction he went - which would bring new confidence, honor and glory to himself and his country, and to them, the Lords of the Admiralty. . In support of this point of view, it should be noted that on the second journey, the most terrible one ever undertaken, Cook received no special instructions. It may be noted in passing that no one would ever undertake such a voyage again, because when Cook completed it there was little left to discover in the high latitudes of the southern ocean. There is no doubt that Cook was given carte blanche as to where he was to sail and what he was to do.

Cook himself describes his instructions in his own diaries as follows:

On July 3, Resolution met Adventure in the Plymouth Canal. The evening before, we had a meeting with Lord Sandwich in the waters of the canal. On the yacht Augusta, accompanied by the frigate Glory and the sloop Azard, he toured the Admiralty shipyards.
We saluted him with seventeen shots. Lord Sandwich and Sir Hugh Pelliser visited the Resolution and gave new, this time final, proof of their concern for our safe departure. They wanted to personally verify that the ship was equipped for long voyages in full accordance with my requirements.

At Plymouth I received instructions signed on June 25th. This instruction required me to take command of the Adventure, immediately proceed to the island of Madeira, stock up on wine there and continue on to the Cape of Good Hope. Having replenished our supplies there with everything necessary for further navigation, I had to go south in search of Cape Sirconcincion, which, according to Bouvet, was located at 54° S. latitude. and 11°20′ E.

Having discovered this cape, I had to establish whether it was part of the southern continent (the existence of which has long been debated by navigators and geographers) or the tip of a relatively small island.

In the first case, the newly discovered lands had to be examined in the most detailed manner, keeping in mind the needs of navigation practice and trade and the significance of this kind of research for science. If these lands turned out to be inhabited, I had to determine the size of the native population, collect information about the character, morals and customs of the inhabitants and enter into friendly relations with them. For this purpose, it was necessary to generously distribute gifts and attract the natives to trade operations. In all circumstances, local residents should be treated with care and consideration.

I was obliged to make every effort to open up new territories in the south, going either east or west, at my own discretion. At the same time, it was necessary to stay at the highest latitudes and sail to the south pole as long as our supplies, the health of the crew and the condition of the ships themselves allowed. Under any circumstances, it was necessary to have on board a reserve supply of food sufficient for a safe return to their homeland in England.

In the second case, if Cape Circoncincion turned out to be only part of the island, I had to accurately determine its position. Then, whether I found it or not, I had to head south while there was still hope for the discovery of the Southern Continent. Then I had to head east and explore the unexplored parts of the southern hemisphere in search of as yet undiscovered lands.

Sailing in high latitudes, perhaps closer to the south pole, I would circumnavigate the globe, return to the Cape of Good Hope, and from there proceed to Speedhead.

I could, if sailing at high latitudes at an unfavorable time of year turned out to be dangerous, temporarily return to a pre-selected point located further north in order to give rest to people and repair ships. However, the instructions required that from this point the ships should again head south at the first opportunity. If the Resolution had died en route, the voyage should have continued on the Adventure.

I gave a copy of these instructions to Captain Furneaux for his guidance and strict execution. In the event of an unexpected separation of the ships, I determined points for the next and subsequent meetings: the first meeting was to take place on the island of Madeira, the second in Porto Praia on the island of Santiago, the third at the Cape of Good Hope, the fourth off the coast of New Zealand.

During our stay in Plymouth, astronomers Wahls and Bailey made observations on Drake Island to verify the ship's chronometers. They found that Drake Island lies at 50°21’30″N. and 4°20′W We accepted the Greenwich meridian as the initial one, and longitudes were subsequently measured from it in both the eastern and western hemispheres, up to 180°.

Expedition composition
The main candidates for the position of leader of the expedition were James Cook and Joseph Banks. It is known that during preparations for the expedition, disagreements arose between the Admiralty and Banks, as a result of which Banks refused to participate in the expedition. James Cook again became the leader of the expedition.

The expedition was allocated two ships - the Resolution with a displacement of 462 tons, which was assigned the role of flagship, and the Adventure, which had a displacement of 350 tons. Cook himself was the captain on the Resolution, and Tobias Furneaux on the Adventure. The lieutenants on the Resolution were: John Cooper, Richard Pickersgill and Charles Clerk.

The expedition included naturalists Johann Reinhold and Georg Forster (father and son), astronomers William Wells and William Bailey, and artist William Hodges.

Progress of the expedition

"Resolution" and "Adventure" in Matavai Bay (Tahiti). Painting.

"Resolution". Painting. Author - John Murray, 1907
On July 13, 1772, the ships left Plymouth. In Cape Town, where they arrived on October 30, 1772, the botanist Anders Sparrman joined the expedition. On November 22, the ships left Cape Town, heading south.

For two weeks, Cook searched for the so-called Circumcision Island, the land that Bouvet first saw, but could not accurately determine its coordinates. Presumably the island was located approximately 1,700 miles south of the Cape of Good Hope. The search turned up nothing, and Cook went further south.

On January 17, 1773, the ships crossed (for the first time in history) the Antarctic Circle. On February 8, 1773, during a storm, the ships found themselves out of line of sight and lost each other. The captains' actions after this were as follows.

Cook cruised for three days trying to find the Adventure. The search turned out to be fruitless and Cook set the Resolution on a course southeast to the 60th parallel, then turned east and remained on this course until March 17. After this, Cook headed for New Zealand. The expedition spent 6 weeks at an anchorage in Tumanny Bay, exploring this bay and restoring strength, after which it moved to Charlotte Bay - a meeting place previously agreed upon in case of loss.
Furneaux moved to the east coast of the island of Tasmania in order to establish whether Tasmania is part of the Australian mainland or an independent island, but was unsuccessful in this, mistakenly deciding that Tasmania was part of Australia. Furneaux then led the Adventure to the rendezvous point in Charlotte Bay.
On June 7, 1773, the ships left Charlotte Bay and headed west. During the winter months, Cook wanted to explore the little-explored areas of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to New Zealand. However, due to an exacerbation of scurvy on Adventure, which was caused by violations of the established diet, I had to visit Tahiti. In Tahiti, a large amount of fruit was included in the diet of the teams, and thus it was possible to cure all scurvy patients.

After Tahiti, Cook visited the island of Huahine, where he managed to purchase about 300 pigs. Despite the fact that excellent relations were established with the islanders and their leader, some members of the expedition were attacked by intruders on this island. So, on September 6, Sparman was robbed and beaten, and Cook himself was threatened with attack. On September 7, just before sailing, Omai, a resident of the nearby island of Uletea, where Cook was going immediately after Huahine, joined the expedition.

Uletea was seen in the evening of the same day. So many pigs were purchased from this island that the total number, according to Cook's estimates, reached 400 head. On Uletea, Cook took with him another islander named Edideus.

The next islands Cook visited were Eua and Tongatabu, whose inhabitants so impressed Cook with their friendliness and trust that Cook named these islands, together with a third island located nearby, the Friendship Islands. This name, which subsequently lost its official status, is still used today.
Captain James Cook - explorer, explorer and cartographer on a New Zealand postage stamp, 1940,
Off the coast of New Zealand, where Cook went after the Friendship Islands, the ships were caught in a storm and separated again. After waiting out the storm in Cook Strait, the Resolution returned to Charlotte Bay, the agreed meeting place, but the Adventure was not there yet. During the three-week wait, the British witnessed scenes of cannibalism among the locals.

Without waiting for the Adventure, Cook moved south, leaving a note on the shore for Captain Furneaux. In it, Cook outlined the places he intended to visit after returning from the polar seas, and suggested that Furneaux either try to meet or return to England. The Adventure arrived in Charlotte Bay a week after Cook's departure. On December 17, 1773, an emergency occurred - eight sailors, led by two boatswains, sent ashore for fresh vegetables, were killed and eaten by New Zealanders. Captain Furneaux decides (perhaps influenced by what happened the day before) to return to England. The very next day (December 18), Furneaux leaves New Zealand and heads to Cape Town. Having replenished the food supply and left a note for Cook, Furneaux returns to England.

From Charlotte Bay, without waiting for Furneaux, Cook set off for the polar waters and on December 21, 1773 crossed the Antarctic Circle for the second time. On January 30, 1774, when the Resolution reached 71° 10′ S, the path was blocked by a continuous field of pack ice. This was the southernmost point that Cook managed to reach during his entire travels.

Having visited Easter Island (March 12, 1774), the Marquesas Islands (April 7, 1774), the Resolution again approached the shores of Tahiti on April 22, 1774. Here Cook witnesses the Tahitians preparing for war with the inhabitants of the neighboring island of Moorea. The expedition was particularly impressed by the Tahitian navy, which is described in Cook's journal as follows:

The fleet consisted of 160 military ships and 150 ships intended for the transport of food supplies. Warships ranged from 40 to 50 feet in length. Above their bow there are platforms where warriors stood in full armor. The oarsmen sat below between the pillars supporting the platforms, one person per pillar. Thus, these platforms were adapted only for combat. Vessels for transporting food supplies are much smaller and do not have platforms. On large ships there were forty people, and on small ships - eight. I calculated that the Tahitian navy employed a total of 7,700 people, but many officers considered this figure to be an understatement. All the ships were decorated with multi-colored flags and presented a majestic spectacle that we did not expect to see in these seas. Leading the way was the admiral's ship, consisting of two large warships joined together. Riding on it was the fleet commander, Admiral Tovga, an elderly man with a handsome, courageous face.

After Tahiti, Cook visited the islands of Huahine and Raiatea, the Friendship Islands. On the Fiji Islands, the expedition endured several skirmishes with the aborigines. On the island of Tanna (Fiji Islands) food supplies were replenished.

On September 3, 1774, New Caledonia was discovered. On October 18, 1774, Cook anchored for the third time in Charlotte Bay and remained there until November 10.

On November 10, 1774, the expedition headed east across the Pacific Ocean, reaching the Strait of Magellan on December 17. Already in the Atlantic Ocean, South Georgia was discovered, but this time it was not possible to reach Antarctica.

On March 21, 1775, Cook returned to Cape Town for repairs, where he received a note left for him by Captain Furneaux. From Cape Town the Resolution sailed straight to England and entered Spithead on July 30, 1775.

Third circumnavigation of the world (1776-1779)
Expedition goals
The main goal set by the Admiralty before Cook's third expedition was the discovery of the so-called Northwest Passage - a waterway crossing the North American continent and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Expedition composition
The expedition, as before, was allocated two ships - the flagship Resolution (displacement 462 tons, 32 guns), on which Cook made his second voyage, and Discovery with a displacement of 350 tons, which had 26 guns. The captain on the Resolution was Cook himself, on the Discovery it was Charles Clerk, who participated in Cook's first two expeditions. John Gore, James King, and John Williamson were first, second, and third mates respectively on the Resolution. On Discovery the first mate was James Burney and the second mate was John Rickman. John Webber worked as an artist on the expedition.

Progress of the expedition

Statue of James Cook, Waimia, Fr. Kauai (Hawaiian Islands)

Inscription on the back of the Captain James Cook Memorial, Waimia, Fr. Kauai (Hawaiian Islands)

Obelisk dedicated to James Cook in Carnel (a suburb of Sydney)
The ships left England separately: the Resolution left Plymouth on July 12, 1776, the Discovery on August 1. On his way to Cape Town, Cook visited the island of Tenerife. In Cape Town, where Cook arrived on October 17, the Resolution was put in for repairs due to the unsatisfactory condition of the side plating. Discovery, which arrived in Cape Town on 1 November, was also repaired.

On December 1, the ships left Cape Town. On December 25 we visited Kerguelen Island. On January 26, 1777, the ships approached Tasmania, where they replenished their supplies of water and firewood.

From New Zealand, the ships set sail for Tahiti, but due to headwinds, Cook was forced to change course and visit the Friendship Islands first. Cook arrived in Tahiti on August 12, 1777.

On December 7, 1777, the ships moved to the Northern Hemisphere, crossing the equator on December 22. Two days later, on December 24, Christmas Island was discovered. While on this island, the expedition observed a solar eclipse.

On January 18, 1778, the Hawaiian Islands were discovered and named by Cook the Sandwich Islands after one of the Lords of the Admiralty (this name did not stick).

The expedition stayed in Hawaii until February 2, recuperating and preparing for sailing in northern latitudes, then moved northeast, to the west coast of North America. On this route, the ships encountered a storm and received partial damage (Resolution, in particular, lost its mizzenmast).

On March 30, 1778, the ships began repairs in the long and narrow Nootka Sound, jutting out from the Pacific Ocean into Vancouver Island.

On April 26, having completed repairs, they left Nootka Sound and headed north along the North American coast. Off the coast of Alaska, however, they had to stop again for repairs, as the Resolution was leaking heavily.

In early August, the ships passed through the Bering Strait, crossed the Arctic Circle and entered the Chukchi Sea. Here they came across a continuous ice field. It was impossible to continue the road north, winter was approaching, so Cook turned the ships around, intending to spend the winter in more southern latitudes.

On October 2, 1778, Cook reached the Aleutian Islands, here he met Russian industrialists who provided him with their map for study. The Russian map turned out to be much more complete than Cook’s map; it contained islands unknown to Cook, and the outlines of many lands, drawn only approximately by Cook, were displayed on it with a high degree of detail and accuracy. It is known that Cook redrew this map and named the strait separating Asia and America after Bering.

On October 24, 1778, the ships left the Aleutian Islands and reached the Hawaiian Islands on November 26, but a suitable anchorage for the ships was found only on January 16, 1779. The inhabitants of the islands - the Hawaiians - concentrated around the ships in large numbers; Cook in his notes estimated their number at several thousand. Later it became known that the high interest and special attitude of the islanders towards the expedition was explained by the fact that they mistook Cook for one of their gods. The good relations that were initially established between the members of the expedition and the Hawaiians, however, began to quickly deteriorate; Every day the number of thefts committed by Hawaiians increased, and the clashes that arose due to attempts to return stolen property became increasingly heated.

Feeling that the situation was heating up, Cook left the bay on February 4, but a storm that began soon caused serious damage to the Resolution's rigging and on February 10 the ships were forced to return for repairs (there was no other anchorage nearby). The sails and parts of the rigging were taken ashore for repairs. Meanwhile, the attitude of the Hawaiians towards the expedition became openly hostile. Many armed people appeared in the area. The number of thefts has increased. On February 13, pliers were stolen from the deck of the Resolution. An attempt to return them was unsuccessful and ended in an open clash.

The next day, February 14, the longboat from the Resolution was stolen. In order to return the stolen property, Cook decided to take Kalaniopa, one of the local leaders, on board as a hostage. Having landed on shore with a group of armed men, consisting of ten marines led by Lieutenant Phillips, he went to the chief's dwelling and invited him onto the ship. Having accepted the offer, Kalaniopa followed the British, but at the very shore he refused to follow further, presumably succumbing to the persuasion of his wife. Meanwhile, several thousand Hawaiians gathered on the shore and surrounded Cook and his people, pushing them back to the water itself. A rumor spread among them that the British had killed several Hawaiians (Captain Clerk's diaries mention one native killed by Lieutenant Rickman's men shortly before the events described), and these rumors, as well as Cook's ambiguous behavior, pushed the crowd to begin hostile actions. In the ensuing battle, Cook himself and four sailors died; the rest managed to retreat to the ship. There are several conflicting eyewitness accounts of those events, and from them it is difficult to judge what actually happened. With a reasonable degree of certainty, we can only say that panic began among the British, the crew began to randomly retreat to the boats, and in this confusion Cook was killed by the Hawaiians (presumably with a spear to the back of the head).

From Lieutenant King's diary:

“When the Hawaiians saw Cook fall, they let out a cry of victory. His body was immediately dragged ashore, and the crowd surrounding him, greedily snatching daggers from each other, began to inflict many wounds on him, since everyone wanted to take part in his destruction.”

Thus, on the evening of February 14, 1779, Captain James Cook was killed by the inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands. Captain Clerk emphasizes in his diaries: if Cook had abandoned his defiant behavior in the face of a crowd of thousands and had not started shooting Hawaiians, the accident could have been avoided. According to Lieutenant Phillips, the Hawaiians did not intend to prevent the British from returning to the ship, much less attack, and the large crowd that had gathered was explained by their concern for the fate of the king (not unreasonable, if we bear in mind the purpose for which Cook invited Kalaniopa to the ship).

From the diaries of Captain Clerk:

Considering the whole affair as a whole, I am firmly convinced that it would not have been carried to extremes by the natives had not Captain Cook made an attempt to punish a man surrounded by a crowd of islanders, relying entirely on the fact that, if necessary, the Marine soldiers would be able to fire from muskets to scatter the natives. Such an opinion was undoubtedly based on extensive experience with various Indian peoples in various parts of the world, but today's unfortunate events have shown that in this case this opinion turned out to be erroneous.

There is good reason to suppose that the natives would not have gone so far if, unfortunately, Captain Cook had not fired upon them: a few minutes before, they began to clear the way for the soldiers, so that they could reach that place on shore, against which the boats stood (I have already mentioned this), thus giving Captain Cook the opportunity to get away from them.

After Cook's death, the position of head of the expedition passed to the captain of the Discovery, Charles Clerk. The clerk tried to obtain the release of Cook's body peacefully. Having failed, he ordered a military operation, during which troops landed under the cover of cannons, captured and burned coastal settlements to the ground and drove the Hawaiians into the mountains. After this, the Hawaiians delivered to the Resolution a basket with ten pounds of meat and a human head without the lower jaw. On February 22, 1779, Cook's remains were buried at sea. Captain Clerk died of tuberculosis, which he suffered from throughout the voyage. The ships returned to England on October 7, 1780.

Expedition results
The main goal of the expedition - the discovery of the Northwest Passage - was not achieved. The Hawaiian Islands, Christmas Island and some other islands were discovered. He visited about 35 islands and cities

Interesting Facts
The command module of the Apollo 15 spacecraft was named after Endeavor, the first ship commanded by James Cook. During his flight, the fourth landing of people on the Moon was carried out. One of the “space shuttles” received the same name.
Regarding the popular myth associated with the death of James Cook, the Russian poet and singer Vladimir Vysotsky wrote a humorous song “One Scientific Riddle, or Why the Aborigines Ate Cook.”
An archipelago in the Pacific Ocean was named after the traveler; The archipelago received its name from the Russian navigator Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, since Cook himself stayed on the islands of the Southern Group in the period from 1773 to 1775.

A modern person only needs to order a ticket at the airport ticket office to travel to the other side of the world. But this was not always the case. Just six centuries ago, the continents of the Western Hemisphere and many of the islands of the southern seas were absent from maps. The golden period in the history of geographical discoveries occurred in 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 proven. The name of this country is associated with the fate of an English naval sailor who had been looking for the mysterious “Southland” for a long time. So, the hero of our story is James Cook. The short biography of the navigator is very rich, eventful, and fascinating. Many people still remember his discoveries from school. For those who have forgotten, or for schoolchildren who are just beginning to explore the fascinating world of geography, it will be useful to at least briefly familiarize themselves with information about the main milestones in the life of this brave man. So, what does fate have in store for him?

James Cook: 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 farmhand. From an early age, the boy showed his intelligence and curiosity. But the family's well-being did not allow for a good education. From adolescence, he began helping his father by working on the farm. The only chance to see the world was to become a cabin boy on the merchant coal brig Hercules. Thus, at the age of 18, a young man named James Cook began his maritime career, whose biography serves as an example to follow for many sailors.

Thanks to diligence and discipline, two years later he was transferred to the ship "Three Brothers". The sailor devoted his free time from watch to studying navigation, astronomy and geography. He was especially interested in descriptions of the voyages of famous explorers. Work 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 abandoned the prospect of becoming captain of the merchant ship Friendship and went as a simple sailor on the warship Eagle. The experience gained while working for 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 his 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 to intercept overseas possessions. At that time, the colonies of Britain's eternal rival exceeded the size of the overseas territories of England and Spain. Thanks to James Cook's knowledge of navigation and cartographic abilities, the fairway of the St. Lawrence River was laid, which helped the British win the fight 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 a consequence of a love of the unknown. These countries primarily pursued their mercantile interests, the main of which was replenishing the state treasury through the development of gold deposits and other minerals. The British Admiralty, by order 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. Having rounded the coast of South America, he emerged through the Drake Passage into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. During the 3 years of his 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 explored and mapped the east coast of Australia.

Second trip around the world

Less than a month after returning home, James Cook, whose biography will henceforth be associated with the interests of the British Admiralty, again set off on a naval expedition for the next three years. This time his home was the ship "Resolution", along with which another ship followed - the "Adventure". The goal was the same as on the first journey: the discovery of new lands.

The expedition route ran past the coast of Africa to the southern latitudes, but the ships did not reach Antarctica due to a storm. During the journey through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, many archipelagos were discovered, and the number of the Adventure crew decreased by 8 people as a result of an attack by cannibalistic aborigines on one of the islands.

On the last journey

The third and last round-the-world expedition of the tireless Briton started in the summer of 1776. He was given the task of discovering a sea route through which he could reach North America through the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This time, James Cook had at his disposal the flagship Resolution and the Discovery ship. Within six months they reached the shores of Tasmania. Having passed along the coast of Tahiti, the ships headed north.

On January 18, 1778, the islands now known as the Hawaiian Islands were discovered. But James Cook initially gave them a different name - Sandwich. From there the ships reached the destination of their journey. From America, the expedition headed to the Arctic and crossed the Arctic Circle. The sailing ships were unable to pass through the ice of the Chukchi Sea, and therefore it was decided to return along the proven route.

On November 26, 1778, the travelers landed 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 abandoned to the elements.

Date of birth: October 27, 1728
Date of death: February 14, 1779
Place of birth: Yorkshire, England

James Cook- famous traveler. James Cook(James Cook), was one of the bravest sailors of his time. He traveled, discovered new lands and compiled geographical maps.

James was born into a poor working-class family. After studying at school for five years, he was sent to work as a farm worker. Working 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 transporting coal. Cook's masters were the Walker brothers, for whom he worked for about three years.

During his work, the young researcher was constantly engaged in self-education, studying the basics of such sciences as navigation, astronomy, mathematics, and geography. He did all this on his own, with only books as assistants.

After several years of working for the Walkers, Cook was asked to become 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. The experience in the merchant fleet did not go unnoticed and within a month of starting 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 hostilities in the Bay of Biscay, Cook performs an extremely difficult task related to cartographic research. Cook successfully completed it, which was one of the reasons for his appointment to the round-the-world expedition.
After continuing work at the mouth of the Canadian St. Lawrence River, Cook gained invaluable experience in mapping and returned to England in 1762.

The marriage to E. Butts soon took place there. The couple subsequently had six children.

In 1767, Cook became the main contender for the post of expedition leader. The declared goal was astronomical research, but in reality England needed new lands. An expedition was sent to discover them. The ship was specially converted for her. 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 Aborigines with respect. He tried to avoid violence and murder, and this was noted with gratitude by local residents.
This continued exactly until two sailors deserted the ship. Only pressure on the elders helped return them to the ship.

However, one of the local chiefs accompanied the team off the coast of New Zealand. There were frequent and bloody clashes with the local population.

Military action did not prevent the opening of the Cook Strait, which divides New Zealand.

In 1770 the ship reached the east coast of Australia. A huge number of previously undescribed plants were discovered there. Since then, the bay has been called “Botanical”.

Soon problems began - the ship was damaged and practically could not continue sailing. The holes were somehow repaired by the crew members 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 Cook Strait he 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 advisable to do this before the French. Two ships of 1772 set off on a dangerous voyage. Six months later they crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time. After this, the storm separated the ships and they met a long time later in Charlotte Bay.

This was followed by a visit to Tahiti, the Friendship Islands, and a stop in Charlotte Bay. The return route lay through Easter Island, and again Tahiti. In 1774, New Caledonia was discovered. Three years after the start of the journey, Cook returned to England.

Less than a year had passed before the two ships set out on the open sea again. Christmas Island was discovered in 1777, followed by Hawaii a year later. Then the path lay in the northern latitudes, where the Bering Strait was described.

The next destination of the trip 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, and the customs of the inhabitants of new lands were described.
Made many discoveries in the fields of geography, astronomy, biology and botany

Dates from the biography of James Cook:

1728 born in England, in the village of Marton
1736 began schooling
1746 began working as a cabin boy
1755 left his job in the merchant marine and joined the navy
1762 began cartographic explorations in North America
1771 appointed commander of the expedition
1775 returned from the second expedition
1776 third expedition
1779 died at the hands of the Aborigines

Interesting James Cook Facts:

One of the first explorers who tried to treat the inhabitants of new lands in a friendly manner, bartering and buying what they needed, rather than taking by force and killing.
Some of the maps produced by Cook's team were used until the end of the 19th century.
The first of the captains to learn how to combat mortality among crew members from a lack of vitamin C.
Used maps compiled by 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.

(1727- 1779)

The biography of James Cook, a famous cartographer, navigator and geographer, is truly heroic for that time. The future captain was born in England, in the county of Yorkshire, in 1727, on October 27. From the age of seven, the boy begins to engage in hard physical labor - he works with his father on the farm, and only at the age of thirteen does he enter school. After studying for five years, young James goes to the navy and enters the service as a cabin boy. Having quite a lot of time, he, contrary to tradition, spends it on taverns, and on studying the intricacies of navigation, geographical maps and the structure of ships. The young man’s efforts were not in vain. Noticing the young man’s efforts, one of the private companies invites him to become a captain, but Cook refuses, rightly believing that the hard and sometimes thankless work of a sailor in the Royal Navy can give him much more. This calculation turned out to be surprisingly accurate. Decisive changes in the biography of James Cook occurred after his return from the Seven Years' War, at the end of which he was appointed captain of the merchant ship Newfoundland, from which Cook's triumphant march across the waters began.

On this ship, Cook made many successful and economically beneficial trips for England, but they did not bring him fame and glory. Cook entered history thanks to three voyages around the world, which made it possible to significantly clarify the sea maps existing at that time, discover unknown lands and lay out sea routes.

The first trip around the world began in 1768 and lasted almost five years. Few people believed in the success of the expedition, so it consisted of a single ship, of which Cook became the captain. The travelers experienced a shortage of food and drinking water, but nevertheless, already in 1769 they reached the shores of Tahiti. The exhausted crew stops on the island for a while and strikes up friendships with the local population. Cook, taking advantage of the forced delay, studies astronomy in Tahiti and draws up a map of the starry sky. The next destinations on the crew's route are New Zealand and Australia. Despite the fact that the ship ran aground in one of the bays and received significant damage, the captain decides to move on and reaches Indonesia on a half-broken ship. After carrying out repair work, which lasted almost six months, Cook triumphantly returned to London.

The second expedition turned out to be more prepared - it already involved two ships, which for the first time in history managed to cross the Antarctic Circle. However, there were some complications there too. Due to the storm and poor visibility, the ships lost each other and crossed paths again near the island. Charlotte. Cook again visited Tahiti and New Zealand, and then went to the Antarctic Circle and discovered New Caledonia and South Georgia.

The third and final expedition, which began in 1776, promised to be successful. This time Cook goes to the Chukchi Sea and crosses the Arctic Circle. Along his route, he discovers the islands of Friendship and Christmas. Next, the captain and his crew return to the southern seas and discover the Hawaiian Islands. It is here that the biography of James Cook ends tragically. On February 14, 1779, during a revolt of the local population, the great navigator was killed.