Who was James Cook and why is he important?

Answer 1

James Cook was an English sea captain. He is remembered for his contribution to exploration of the Southern Hemisphere, and his significant contributions to the charting of New Zealand and the east coast of Australia, neither of which he actually discovered (contrary to popular opinion).

It was upon Cook's recommendation that places such as New Zealand and Australia were colonised by the British, resulting in European settlement and the expansion of the British empire.

On his first journey, departing in 1768, he commanded the 'Endeavour' on an expedition to chart the transit of Venus. Cook went on to search for Terra Australis Incognita, the great continent which some believed to extend round the pole. He first came across New Zealand, which had already been discovered by Abel Tasman in 1642. Cook spent some months there, charting the coastline. Nearly a year later, he set sail east, becoming the first known European to sight the Eastern coast of Australia, in April 1770. He continued north, charting the coast in some detail, before returning a favourable report to England. It was this report which convinced the authorities to colonise the Australian continent with convicts.

On Cook's second journey which lasted from 1772-1775, he commanded the 'Resolution' and the 'Adventure' on an expedition to the South Pacific, disproving the rumour of a great southern continent, exploring the Antarctic Ocean, New Hebrides and New Caledonia.

On his third journey, commencing in 1776, Cook visited and named the Sandwich Islands, now known as Hawaii, and unsuccessfully sought a northwest passage along the coast of North America. On his way back to England, he stopped at Hawaii again. After a boat was stolen by natives, he and his crew had an altercation with the Hawaiians. On 14 February 1779, Cook was speared by Hawaiian natives. This was a tragic end to the career of a noble and courageous explorer who contributed much to the knowledge of the continents and islands of the world.

Answer 2

James Cook was a man who commanded his own ship, despite his lowly upbringing.

Contrary to popular opinion, Cook did NOT discover Australia, nor New Zealand, but he was important for several reasons:

On his first journey, departing in 1768, he commanded the 'Endeavour' on an expedition to chart the transit of Venus. Cook went on to search for Terra Australis Incognita, the great continent which some believed to extend round the pole. He first came across New Zealand, which had already been discovered by Abel Tasman in 1642. He spent some months there, charting the coastline. Nearly a year later, he set sail east, becoming the first known European to sight the Eastern coast of Australia, in April 1770. He continued north, charting the coast in some detail, before returning a favourable report to England. It was this report which convinced the authorities to colonise the Australian continent with convicts.

On Cook's second journey which lasted from 1772-1775, he commanded the 'Resolution' and the 'Adventure' on an expedition to the South Pacific, disproving the rumour of a great southern continent, exploring the Antarctic Ocean, New Hebrides and New Caledonia.

On his third journey, commencing in 1776, Cook visited and named the Sandwich Islands, now known as Hawaii, and unsuccessfully sought a northwest passage along the coast of North America. On his way back to England, he stopped at Hawaii again. After a boat was stolen by natives, he and his crew had an altercation with the Hawaiians. On 14 February 1779, Cook was speared by Hawaiian natives.

Answer 3

James Cook explored and charted the eastern coast of Australia (he did not discover Australia). He and botanist Joseph Banks, who was aboard the Endeavour with Cook during this journey, proposed that Australia be settled as a penal colony. His reports of the continent were far more favourable than those of fellow Englishman William Dampier, who had only landed on Australia's far northwestern shores.

Cook is therefore important to Australia because his reports were directly responsible for the subsequent settlement of the land, eighteen years after Cook's mapping of the coast.

Answer 4

James Cook claimed land for his country and helped build a huge empire.he also helped the Navy's navigation skills by going to see the Transit of Venus and to seek the evidence of the postulated unknown Southern land.

Answer 5

James Cook was an English sea captain. Contrary to popular opinion, he did NOT discover Australia, nor New Zealand, but he was famous for several reasons:

• On his first journey, departing in 1768, he commanded the 'Endeavour' on an expedition to chart the transit of Venus. Cook went on to search for Terra Australis Incognita, the great continent which some believed to extend round the pole. He first came across New Zealand, which had already been discovered by Abel Tasman in 1642. He spent some months there, charting the coastline.
• Nearly a year later, he set sail east, becoming the first known European to sight the Eastern coast of Australia, in April 1770. He continued north, charting the coast in some detail, before returning a favourable report to England. It was this report and recommendation which convinced the authorities to colonise the Australian continent with convicts. It was also on this journey that Cook claimed Australia and New Zealand for the British empire.
• On Cook's second journey which lasted from 1772-1775, he commanded the 'Resolution' and the 'Adventure' on an expedition to the South Pacific, disproving the rumour of a great southern continent, exploring the Antarctic Ocean, New Hebrides and New Caledonia.
• On his third journey, commencing in 1776, Cook visited and named the Sandwich Islands, now known as Hawaii, and unsuccessfully sought a northwest passage along the coast of North America. On his way back to England, he stopped at Hawaii again. After a boat was stolen by natives, he and his crew had an altercation with the Hawaiians. On 14 February 1779, Cook was speared by Hawaiian natives.
• Because his death in Hawaii was at the end of a brilliant career he became a part of the lore and legend of British seamanship. Cook had worked his way up from ordinary merchant seaman to Royal Navy Master and Commander, had proven that Australia was a continent, circumnavigated New Zealand, mapped Newfoundland and searched for the Northwest Passage. He had earned his reputation.

Answer 6

He was an explorer who cared for his crew. On his missions few crew died due to sicknesses because he had them eat a diet including C-vitamin!

Answer 7

James Cook was the first known European to circumnavigate and chart the main islands of New Zealand. He was also the one who claimed New Zealand for Great Britain.

Answer 8

discovered Hawaii