0
James Cook was commissioned by the Royal Society in England to search the southern seas and find the "Great Southland" ("Terra Australis") that was believed to exist in the world's southern oceans somewhere. The result was that although he hadn't been the first European to discover Australia, he was the first known to have sailed along and chart most of the eastern coast of Australia - which was eventually to become the most significant for settlement.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoJames Cook was not a captain when he first came to Australia, but a Lieutenant. He was only promoted after his successful exploration,
Cook was originally sent on a scientific expedition to observe the transit of Venus from the vantage point of Tahiti in the South Pacific. Before he departed England, he was handed secret, sealed orders by the Royal Society in England to search the southern seas and find the "Great South Land" ("Terra Australis") that was believed to exist in the world's southern oceans. The Dutch had already explored much of the western coast, naming it New Holland, but whether or not it was part of an entire continent had not yet been ascertained. Cook was ordered to sail west from Tahiti and claim any unclaimed lands for Great Britain. He first came across New Zealand, then sailed further west and found the eastern coast of the continent now known as Australia. His next task was to make extensive notes and observations, and determine its suitability for settlement and colonisation.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Did convicts come with Captain Cook?
No. Lieutenant James Cook, who was not yet a captain when he first charted the east coast of Australia, was on a mission of both exploration and scientific observation. The convicts arrived in Australia eighteen years after Cook sighted the east coast.
What ship did James Cook travel on to come to Australia?
James Cook, who was not yet a Captain but a Lieutenant, travelled to Australia in the HM Bark Endeavour.
Which country did captain James Cook come from?
England
Where did Captian Cook come from?
Captain James Cook was born in Yorkshire, northern England.
Did any explorers come between Captain Cook and The First Fleet?
No. Australia's east coast was not visited by any other European explorers between 1770 and 1788.
Where did Captain James Cook come from?
Captain James Cook was born in England.
Why didn't Captain James Cook ask the Aboriginals to share Australia?
Captain James Cook and the Aborigines could not communicate as they spoke completely different languages. There was no-one aboard the Endeavour who could even come close to translating the Aboriginal language.
How many islands did Captain Cook go to?
Captain James Cook did not actually find any countries. He was the first to chart the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the first to circumnavigate New Zealand. However, he did not find either of these countries. He was the first European to come across Hawaii, which he called the Sandwich Islands, but they do not constitute a "country".
How many more people have come to Australia after Cook discovered it?
1. James Cook did not discover Australia.2. It is impossible to know how many people have come to Australia and/or settled here since 1788, which was when the First Fleet of convicts arrived, some 18 years after Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia.
Where in Sydney did Captain Cook first come ashore?
James Cook only ever came ashore at Botany Bay.
What year did Captain Cook come to New Zealand?
The botanical exploration of Captain James Cook in New Zealand was between 1769 and 1770. He was with two botanists Joseph Banks and Dr Solander.
Who was the first British man to come to Australia?
The first British man to come to Australia was William Dampier, who first landed on Western Australia's coast on 4 January 1688.Many people believe James Cook was the first Englishman to come to Australia. He was not.
