James Cook

James Cook (October 27, 1728 – February 14, 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, and map maker. He made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, in which its main shorelines were mapped. His most notable accomplishments were the discoveries of the east coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, and the mapping of New Zealand.

Cook's protégés

A number of the junior officers who served under Cook went on to distinctive accomplishments of their own.

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• William Bligh, Cook's sailing master, was given command of the HMS Bounty in 1787 to sail to Tahiti and return with breadfruit. William Bligh is most known for having his crew mutiny and set him adrift in 1789. (See: Mutiny on the Bounty)
• George Vancouver, one of Cook's midshipmen, later led a voyage of exploration to the Pacific Coast of North America from 1791 to 1794.
• George Dixon sailed under Cook on his third expedition, and later commanded an expedition of his own.