James Cook, who charted and claimed Australia's eastern coastline for Great Britain, was given the credit (incorrectly) for discovering Australia because it was upon his recommendation that Australia was actually settled by the British. Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the one who claimed it in the name of Great Britain in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year. For these reasons, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia.
There were several Dutch and French explorers who landed on Australia's shores long before Cook even set sail, and Cook was not even the first Englishman to sight Australia, with that honour going to William Dampier. The Dutch did not make any formal claim to the continent, and the French claim was not substantiated. Because Australia had been settled by the British, and there was a continuing loyalty to the British, for years Australian schoolchildren were taught that Captain Cook discovered Australia (even though Cook was not even a captain at the time he claimed New South Wales).
James Cook, who was not even a captain when he charted Australia's eastern coast, was given the credit (incorrectly) for discovering Australia because it was upon his recommendation that Australia was actually settled by the British. Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the one who claimed it in the name of Great Britain in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year. For these reasons, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia. There were several Dutch and French explorers who landed on Australia's shores long before Cook even set sail, and Cook was not even the first Englishman to sight Australia, with that honour going to William Dampier. The Dutch did not make any formal claim to the continent, and the French claim was not substantiated. Because Australia had been settled by the British, and there was a continuing loyalty to the British, for years Australian schoolchildren were taught that Captain Cook discovered Australia.
James Cook, who was not even a captain when he charted Australia's eastern coast, was given the credit (incorrectly) for discovering Australia because it was upon his recommendation that Australia was actually settled by the British. Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the one who claimed it in the name of Great Britain in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year. For these reasons, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia. There were several Dutch and French explorers who landed on Australia's shores long before Cook even set sail, and Cook was not even the first Englishman to sight Australia, with that honour going to William Dampier. The Dutch did not make any formal claim to the continent, and the French claim was not substantiated. Because Australia had been settled by the British, and there was a continuing loyalty to the British, for years Australian schoolchildren were taught that Captain Cook discovered Australia.
James Cook charted the east coast of Australia.
James Cook, who was not yet a Captain but a Lieutenant, travelled to Australia in the HM Bark Endeavour.
James Cook was in command of HMS Bark Endeavour when he sailed to Australia.
Captain James Cook.
James Cook, who was not even a captain when he charted Australia's eastern coast, was given the credit (incorrectly) for discovering Australia because it was upon his recommendation that Australia was actually settled by the British. Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the one who claimed it in the name of Great Britain in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year. For these reasons, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia. There were several Dutch and French explorers who landed on Australia's shores long before Cook even set sail, and Cook was not even the first Englishman to sight Australia, with that honour going to William Dampier. The Dutch did not make any formal claim to the continent, and the French claim was not substantiated. Because Australia had been settled by the British, and there was a continuing loyalty to the British, for years Australian schoolchildren were taught that Captain Cook discovered Australia.
No. Quite simply, Cook did not discover Australia. Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook was simply the first European to record the discovery of the eastern coastline of Australia, in April 1770. The first undisputed sighting of and landing on Australia was much earlier, by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in March 1606. The reason why Cook is often given credit as the discoverer of Australia was because it was upon his recommendation that Australia was actually settled by the British. Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the one who claimed it in the name of Great Britain in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year.
James Cook, who was not even a captain when he charted Australia's eastern coast, was given the credit (incorrectly) for discovering Australia because it was upon his recommendation that Australia was actually settled by the British. Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the one who claimed it in the name of Great Britain in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year. For these reasons, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia. There were several Dutch and French explorers who landed on Australia's shores long before Cook even set sail, and Cook was not even the first Englishman to sight Australia, with that honour going to William Dampier. The Dutch did not make any formal claim to the continent, and the French claim was not substantiated. Because Australia had been settled by the British, and there was a continuing loyalty to the British, for years Australian schoolchildren were taught that Captain Cook discovered Australia.
James Cook was 41 when he first reached Australia.
James Cook was the first to chart the east coast of Australia.
James Cook charted the east coast of Australia.
None. He was the first to seriously explore and map the coast of Australia, but that continent had already been discovered earlier by the Dutch.
James Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia from April to August 1770.
James Cook charted much of Australia's eastern coastline in 1770.
James Cook first sighted the eastern coast of Australia in April 1770.
James Cook first saw the kangaroo in Australia, noting it as a gangurru.