Born 1728,
Whitby, England
Died February 14, 1779,
Hawaiian Islands
James Cook was born in 1728 near Whitby in northern England, the son of a Scottish farm laborer. After working as a farmer’s helper and a grocer’s assistant, Cook went to sea at the age of 18, which was then considered late. He was apprenticed to a Whitby shipowner who lodged the boy in his own home when he was ashore and encouraged him to study. When Cook was only 25, he was offered the command of a collier, a coal transport vessel, choosing instead to join the Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman. His ability was quickly recognized, and he was soon promoted to the rank of master, or warrant officer.
During the Seven Years’ War with France, Cook saw active service in Canada and was present at the siege of Quebec. His meticulous charting of the St. Lawrence River, a major contribution to the British victory, testified to his patience and skill as a marine surveyor. The data he gathered were so accurate that his charts were used for over a century. After the war he surveyed the coast of Newfoundland where his skill and industry gave him a deserved reputation as the best pilot in the navy.
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