Early Life

James Cook was born in England in 1728, in the small village of Marton-in-Cleveland, Yorkshire, where his father was a farm labourer. James was one of eight children, and for many years, the Cook family was very poor. All the children worked as soon as they were able, and James was looking after animals and running errands by the age of five.

In 1736, the Cooks moved to Great Ayton, Yorkshire. When he wasn't doing farm work, James went to the Postgate School in the village, where his best subject was mathematics. He had an independent character and was determined to follow his own path.

At 18, James moved to Whitby and became an apprentice to John Walker, a shipowner. He sailed on Walker's coal-carrying ships between London and the coal mines of the Tyne valley. During his three-year apprenticeship, James developed great skill as a seaman. He studied mathematics, navigation and astronomy, all tools that he would need one day to command his own ships on voyages of exploration.

Map of city of Québec, 1755 Copyright/Source

James joined the Royal Navy as an able seaman in 1755, at the age of 26, and was promoted very quickly. Hard working and curious, he learned how to survey and draw maps of waterways and coastlines. During the Seven Years' War, he sailed along the coast of New France and mapped the St. Lawrence River around the city of Québec. This map helped Britain to prepare its invasion of Québec and its defeat of the French forces there in 1759.

Lucky Breaks and More…

Throughout James Cook's life, there seemed to be people who were willing to help him. The wife of a wealthy farmer taught young James his first reading and writing lessons, and the owner of the farm in Great Ayton paid for James's education at the Postgate School.

After he left school, James worked for a shopkeeper in a seaside town called Staithes. The shopkeeper noticed his fascination with sailors, and helped him get a job as an apprentice with John Walker, the respected shipowner. Such lucky breaks, along with James's hard work and determination, helped the future explorer to pursue his dreams.