HM Bark Endeavour

HM Bark Endeavour was a small 18th century British sailing ship, famous for being the vessel commanded by Lt. (later Captain) James Cook, on his first voyage of discovery to the Pacific Ocean.

Purchased by the Admiralty

In February of 1768 the Royal Society of London petitioned King George III to finance a scientific expedition to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition's ostensible purpose was to study and observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the sun (in concert with several other observations to be made from different locations). However, a more pragmatic reason was to be relayed to her captain by the Admiralty in subsequent secret orders; namely, to search out the southern Pacific for signs of the postulated continent, Terra Australis Incognita (the unknown land of the south).

Related Topics:
1768 - Royal Society of London - King George III - Pacific Ocean - Transit of Venus

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The mission approved, the newly-built ship was purchased by the Royal Navy for the sum of £2307 5s. 6d. and assigned for use in the Society's expedition. She was renamed Endeavour after a major refit at Deptford on the River Thames in 1768, her improvements including caulking the hull and adding a third deck to prepare her for her new role as an exploration vessel. Classified by the Navy as a bark, she was known as Endeavour Bark to distinguish her from another Endeavour in the Royal Navy. She transported 94 people on her first voyage. This 18th century use of the term 'bark' should not be confused with the barques of the later 19th century and early 20th century.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - Deptford - River Thames - 1768 - Caulking - Bark

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Her commander was the recently-appointed R.N. Lieutenant, James Cook, who had made a reputation as a skilled navigator and cartographer during his earlier postings in Quebec and Newfoundland during the Seven Years War.

Related Topics:
Lieutenant - James Cook - Navigator - Cartographer - Quebec - Newfoundland - Seven Years War

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Other notable members on the expedition were the naturalists Sir Joseph Banks from England, Dr. Herman Spöring from Finland (after whome in 1769 James Cook named the Spöring Island on the coast of New Zealand), Daniel Solander from Sweden (the Oxford University honoured the Swede with a Doctorate of Law after this expedition) and the English astronomer Charles Green, who was to be in charge of making the astronomical observations.

Related Topics:
Naturalists - Joseph Banks - Herman Spöring - Finland - 1769 - Spöring Island - New Zealand - Daniel Solander - Sweden - Charles Green

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