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.

Start of Royal Navy career

During the Seven Years' War, he participated in the siege of Quebec City before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. He showed a talent for surveying and cartography and was responsible for mapping much of the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River during the siege allowing General Wolfe to make his famous stealth attack on the Plains of Abraham.

Related Topics:
Seven Years' War - Quebec City - Battle of the Plains of Abraham - 1759 - Surveying - Saint Lawrence River - General Wolfe - Plains of Abraham

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Cook's surveying skills were put to good use in the 1760s mapping the jagged coast of Newfoundland. Cook surveyed the northwest stretch in 1763 and 1764, the south coast between the Burin Peninsula and Cape Ray in 1765 and 1766, and the west coast in 1767. Cook?s five seasons in Newfoundland produced the first large-scale and accurate maps of the island?s coasts; they also gave Cook his mastery of practical surveying, achieved under often adverse conditions, and brought him to the attention of the Admiralty and Royal Society at a crucial moment both in his personal career and in the direction of British overseas discovery.

Related Topics:
Surveying - 1760s - Newfoundland - 1763 - 1764 - Burin Peninsula - Cape Ray - 1765 - 1766 - 1767 - Admiralty - Royal Society

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Cook's huge achievements can be attributed to a combination of excellent seamanship, his superior surveying and cartographic skills, courage in exploring dangerous locations to confirm the facts (e.g. dipping into the Antarctic circle repeatedly and exploring around the Great Barrier Reef), ability to lead men in adverse conditions, and boldness both with regard to the extent of his explorations and going beyond the instructions given by the Admiralty.

Related Topics:
Seamanship - Antarctic circle - Great Barrier Reef

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