James Cook

By: Tsz Shun, Fadilla, Alexander and Alan

ContentsBiography of James Cook

TimelineJames Cook Facts4 Learner ProfilesAlexander’s Ship

Map of James Cooks first travel

Map of James Cooks second travel

Map of James Cooks third travel

James Cook was born on October 27th 1728 in Yorkshire, England. He was apprenticed to William Sanderson, a shopkeeper, in 1745. Then he was apprenticed to John Walker, who owned a ship, in 1746.

In 1755 Cook joined the Royal Navy. In 1762, before his first voyage, Cook married Elizabeth Batts and had six children- James, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Joseph, George and Hugh.

On his first voyage in 1768 Cook sailed to countries on a ship named the Endeavour which could hold 94 men, 17 sheep, 4 or 5 pigs, 2 dogs and a goat. Then in 1769 he visited Tahiti and made observations of Venus. He then sailed to New Zealand where he mapped the coast. Cook then sailed west and landed at Botany Bay, Australia. He was the first European to ever see a kangaroo. Cook thought it was a large dog.

In 1772 Cook started his second journey. He attempted to continue to search for the southern continent. Cook almost discovered the mainland of Antarctica, but turned back north towards Tahiti.

In 1776 Cook set off on his third and last journey. He was to find a route that went from the West to the East. He sailed to the Hawaiian Islands and was murdered by the natives.

James Cook is born- 1728 in Yorkshire, England.

James Cook is apprenticed to William Sanders-on 1745.

Then he was apprenticed to John Walker, who owned a ship, in 1746.

In 1755 Cook joined the Royal Navy.

In 1762, before his first voyage, Cook married Elizabeth Batts.

1768 Cook starts his first voyage.

Cook ends his first voyage in 1771.

Cook sailed to Tahiti in 1769 and made observations of Venus.

Cook starts second voyage on 1772.

He sailed to New Zealand again in 1773.

Cook ends his second voyage in 1775.

Cook then started his last journey in 1776.

Cook is murdered by natives in the Hawaiian islands in 1779.

James Cook Facts• James Cook was a significant explorer

because he mapped many areas. Two of the places he mapped were New Zealand and Australia. He was also the first European to reach Hawaii.

• James Cook explored Australia and impacted the way people live now. If he didn’t go to Australia it would be totally different from now. The English forced prisoners, who were also called convicts, to go to Australia because they didn’t have much space in jail for all those hundreds of convicts. Those people colonised the city and towns of Australia.

• James Cook was a curious man because he thought that there was a continent in the South, so he set off in search of this continent… and was right!

• Cook was looking for land because he thought that there was country in the South. The King of England also assigned him to search for the South Continent, which made him all the more eager.

James Cook Facts

4 Learner Profiles

Inquirer James Cook made observations of Venus withscientists.

Communicator James Cook wasn’t a communicator because he didn’t try to communicate with the aboriginals.

Risk Taker James Cook was a risk taker because he tried new challenges. For example he went on 3 voyages.

Knowledgeable James Cook learnt how to navigate ships, draw maps and use them on all three voyages.

Cook’s Ship

This is a replica of the Endeavour. The actual ship was made in 1764, then refitted in 1768. This replica was actually made in 2007.

1st Voyage (1768 - 1771)

James Cook visited Australia, New Zealand, the Dutch East Indies and Cape Town in Africa.

AFRICA

EUROPE ASIA

2nd Voyage (1772 – 1775)

James Cook visited New Zealand, the Antarctic Circle, Tahiti and South around the Cape of Good Hope. He also visited some islands in the South Pacific.

EUROPE ASIA

AFRICA

3rd Voyage (1776 – 1779)

James Cook journeyed to the Hawaiian Islands again and then travelled to Oregon, the Coastline north to Alaska and West through Bering Sea.

AFRICA

EUROPE ASIA

Did You Know…?

• That on February 14th some Hawaiians stole some of Cook’s small boats. He planned to keep Hawaii’s chief Kalaniopu hostage until the goods were returned. But then he had a stomach ailment and acted weirdly.

• Cook was killed by a stab in the head

with a spear.