Captain James Cook

James Cook Captain James Cook was born in Marton, Yorkshire, England in 1728. He was a Cartographer. During his early years at sea (1746-1755) he worked as an apprentice, able seaman and mate with the merchantile marine trade in the Baltic and North Seas, and in Newcastle. He joined the British Navy in 1755, the year preceding the Seven Years' War, and rapidly rose to rank of Master's Mate on the H.M.S. Pembroke.

Captain Cook, in the period of 1763-1767, surveyed the north, south, and west coasts of Newfoundland, under the orders of the Admiralty. Cook worked under two governors of Newfoundland, Captain Thomas Graves and Commodore Hugh Palliser. He was fortunate in that both men were energetic governors who appreciated the work he was doing. They established a personal relationship with him, and considered him as more than a mere nautical surveyor. Cook became involved in the Newfoundland survey almost by accident. As Master of the Northumberland, the flagship of the North American squadron, Lord Colville commanding, Cook accompanied the fleet when it sailed to St. John's in 1762 to assist in the recapture of the town from the French. As the Northumberland moved from port to port in Newfoundland, Cook's constant surveying and chart-making attracted the attention not only of Lord Colville, but also of Governor Graves. Captain Cook later travelled to Carbonear with Desbarres to assist in planning new defences, and while there conducted surveys of the surrounding waters and of Harbour Grace. Cook was commended for this work by Governor Thomas Graves who, in 1763, pressed for his appointment as Marine Surveyor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The existing maps of Newfoundland were incomplete for the north, west and south coasts, so more reliable charts had to be constructed in order that the new French territories could be clearly defined.

In August of 1763 Captain James Cook scientifically surveyed the south coast and to the westward of Placentia Bay. He spent time in Placentia Bay with his former commanding officer, Sir Hugh Palliser then Governor of Newfoundland, on the H.M.S. Eagle.

When James Cook left Newfoundland for the last time in the autumn of 1767, he had compiled a series of coastal charts. The observations that accompany each chart were filled with sailing directions, advice on safe anchorage, nautical observation of winds, currents, tides, rocks, reefs, compass variations and so on. These maps continued in use for over a century as a standard volume for directing ships around the coasts of Newfoundland. Some of these maps are now housed in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich England, the British Museum and the Public Archives of Canada.

On February 14, 1779, while investigating the theft of the ships cutter, Cook was attacked, repeatedly stabbed and killed by the Hawaiians.


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Source:
Horizons Canada