answersLogoWhite

0

Like many young farming lads of his time, James Cook had just a basic education at his local school, the village school of Marton, Yorkshire. He did not attend any specialist or trade school, or university.

Cook had no great ambitions to continue in farming. He was not particularly ambitious and, at age 16, he was apprenticed to a grocer/ haberdashery, but he had no aptitude in even this basic trade. His employer introduced the young James Cook to local shipowners, who took him on as a merchant apprentice on coal ships, and from there he became familiar with shipping and ships. Here he was educated in algebra, trigonometry, navigation, and astronomy.

He spent 9 years doing this, as well as considerable service as ship's master, then joined the royal navy as an ordinary sailor. His experience on the coal ships and his education stood him in good stead, setting him up to command his own ship, and he soon assumed positions of authority in the Royal Navy.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?