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Born
James Cook was born in the Yorkshire village of Marton, England. He was born to a poor Scotsman who had moved to Marton to work as a farmhand -
First expeience at sea
Joined as a sailor on a coal transport ship -
Offered captaincy
James Cook was offered captaincy as he was a naturally taleted sailor. He declined -
Joined the Royal Navy
Joined the Royal Navy in 1775 -
Pembroke
Became captain of his own ship in the Royal Navy. His ship was named the Pembroke -
Finding New Zealand
Captain Cook never discovered New Zealand. He circumnavigated it, charted it and claimed it for Great Britain. -
Found Australia
Captain Cook found a whole new land (east side) which turned out to be Australia. -
First time to cross the Antarctic circle
Thick and numerous pack ice prevented him and the other two ships from going further. They came just past the Antarctic circle, but then had to turn back. -
Second time crossing the Antarctic cicle
Captain Cook returned and came within just 75 miles Antarctica was once again stopped by packed ice. This was the closest to the South Pole any known person had ever been -
Death
Cook got shot while fighting a group of Hawaiian locals. He died at Kealakekua bay off the shore of Hawaii. He was 51.
