James Cook

On August 25, 1768, Cook departed England aboard the Endeavour with 94 crewmen and scientists. He was carrying secret orders from the Royal Navy to be opened upon completion of his scientific mission.

Cook was determined to keep his crew healthy. He insisted his men eat onions and pickled cabbage every day, and made sure that the ship kept fresh fruit and vegetables on board. He ordered his men to bathe every day, to clean their clothing, and to air out their bedding. He did not know the scientific reasons behind these measures, but he knew they worked to prevent scurvy and other diseases in his crew.On April 11, 1769, the Endeavour arrived on the shores of Tahiti, seven weeks early. After viewing the passing of Venus between the earth and sun for several weeks, Cook opened the sealed envelope with the Royal Navy's orders. He was to seek out the fabled southern continent and claim it for England. Early mapmakers in the 1570s assumed there were two major continents at each of the earth's poles. Dutch explorers had searched for the southern continent in the seventeenth century. Since the continents had not yet been found, the Royal Navy trusted that Cook would find the southern one if it existed. He left Tahiti on July 13 and headed southwest.

The Endeavour made its way to Java in the East Indies in October 1770. Once there, Cook's men became very ill with malaria and dysentery. Despite all his efforts to keep his crew safe and healthy, they were no match for these diseases. He lost 30 men and had to sign on new crew in South Africa in order to make it back home to England. The Endeavour returned to Dover, England, on July 13, 1771, after a three-year voyage. Cook was formally presented to his majesty King George III bestowed on him the rank of naval commander.

See a map of James Cook's Voyages.

Second Voyage | Final Voyage 

Read more about the individual explorers:

Francis Drake | Christopher Newport | James Cook | John Smith | Walter Raleigh

Find out about their watercraft:

How They Got There | Once They Arrived

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English Exploration