Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Top 10 Shocking Facts about James Cook


 

James Cook was a British explorer, a captain in the British Royal Navy and a well-respected cartographer.

He was born in a farming family in North Yorkshire. Cook started working at 13 after his father sent him to work for a local shopkeeper. The shop was by the sea and Cook would spend most of his time staring at the sea, probably wondering what lies in the yonder.

It was not long before he lost his job at the shop. The shopkeeper was not impressed by his lack of interest in the job. Five years later, Cook made his first voyage to the Pacific.

Cook made three voyages to the Pacific and drew a detailed map of Newfoundland. Cook was the first European to land on the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. During this exploration, Cook reached places no other European had.

Through the use of scientific methods, James Cook led his crew on a voyage that earned him the title of an all-time great seafarer.  

Here are the top 10 shocking facts about James Cook.

1. He started exploring at 18

James Cook was 18 years old when he became a trainee in the British merchant navy. He was a fast learner that by 1758, Cook became the master of his own ship.

His first trip as the shipmaster was to Canada as part of his service to the navy. During his time at the Royal Navy, Cook studied maths, charting, geography and astronomy.

The skills he learned gave him a great start at the Navy. He was appointed as the leader of an astronomical expedition. He was later promoted to Lieutenant and went on his first voyage.

Before joining the Royal Navy, Cook worked with a merchant sailing company when he was 17. He became skilled in sailing through the rough seas.

After a few years working at the merchant company, Cook quit his job and joined the Royal Navy. 

2. Cook was the best cartographer

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

While enlisted with the Royal Navy, Cook’s talent in cartography could not go unnoticed. This was during the Seven Years’ War when he drew a detailed map of the Saint Lawrence River.

This helped the British army sneak in on French-held Quebec. He was trusted with a ship where he led an expedition to Newfoundland at the coast of Canada.

The map was so accurate so much so it was used in the 20th century. This skill was so useful that he was known as the master of cartography.

He was well known and respected the world over for this rare skill. Cook was able to go to uncharted territories and return with a map of the places he went.

3. James Cook went on secret missions for the government

By William Hodges – Wikimedia

Cook and his crew were sent to observe Venus’s transit across the Sun. the government had sent him a secret message to find the great southern continent. This continent was said to reach the equator.

The Royal Navy was keen to get a map of this continent. Cook travelled through immense areas of the Pacific Ocean and even into the Antarctic Circle.

Although he did not find it, he was able to chart several other unknown islands as well as new societies in the Pacific.

4. Cook was able to make friends with the local communities who were not happy with the intruders

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

During his first voyage, Cook became the second known European to land on New Zealand. He was also the first European to explore and chart Australia’s eastern coastline.

While on this exploration, he encountered the Aborigines who were not welcoming. Cook’s arm used guns to force them to retreat but Cook was able to calm them.

As they sailed further north, their ship was struck at the Great Barrier Reef. It took them several weeks to repair the vessel. During this time, Cook established a cordial relationship with the local communities.

While in Hawaii, he was treated as a god since he was the first white man to land on the Island. This warm welcome did not last long, on his second visit, Cook was stabbed to death after a brawl between his crew and the locals.

5. His ship almost got wrecked at the Great Barrier Reef

When Cook landed in Australia, he headed north towards the Batavia. This territory was new and he did not foresee what happened next. They were headed straight to the Great Reef Barrier.

His ship was badly damaged and they had to jump into action since the life of the entire crew was in danger. They removed the cannon and other equipment that weighed down the ship.

It took them several weeks to repair the ship before they proceeded with their journey.

6. Cook’s choice for fresh food kept his crew free from diseases

By John Cleveley the Younger – Wikimedia

Since Cook and his crew spent most of their time in the sea, they were not able to access fresh vegetables and fruits. Cook devised ways to have fresh vegetables and fruits on board during their voyage.

In the 18th century, scurvy was a dangerous disease that cost the lives of several seafarers. Cook was able to keep this disease off his ships.

He did this successfully because he had a habit of replenishing the ship’s supplies with fresh produce at each stop.

When his crew got scurvy, Cook encouraged them to eat pickled cabbage which sought of curing the disease. This was not an easy meal to swallow, so he led by example.

They also drank spruce beer which prevented scurvy. The beer was not rich in vitamin C.  two of his crew members succumbed to scurvy.

7. He was respected even by his enemies

Cook was on several expeditions during a time which Britain was not seeing eye to eye with several nations.

Despite this, Spain, United States and France had great respect for Cook for being one of the greatest explorers. One time when his ships were impounded in Spain, the authorities released them after learning Cook was in command.

Benjamin Franklin also acknowledged him during his voyage in the American revolution. The president wrote a memo to colonial ship captains instructing them to be friendly to the British vessels.

8. During his expedition in Hawaii, he was treated like a god

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

In 1779, Cook returned to the Hawaiian Islands where he got a godly reception. The local tribe had never seen a white man before nor had they seen large ships.

Cook arrived on the island during the festival that honoured the god of fertility. His arrival made it appear that they were indeed gods.

They were warmly received and given several gifts as well as a lavish feast. This did not last long because one of his crew members died. The locals then learnt that they were mere mortals.

9. The site where Cook was stabbed to death is a British territory

By gillfoto – Wikimedia

On his second trip to Hawaii, Cook and his crew were involved in a fight with the locals. Cook got stabbed and he died.

The spot where he was murdered was marked with a white pillar on the shore. This is the only British territory on the Island which is American.

To get to the monument, one has to take a boat or hike for 2 miles. It is close to a popular snorkelling site.

10. NASA has rockets named after him

There are several spacecraft that have been named after James Cook. The command service module of Apollo 15 and a space shuttle was named after Ships Cook sailed during his voyage.

Another was named after his HMS Discovery that Cook used for his third voyage. NASA named their final shuttle Endeavour after the ship Cook commanded on his first circumnavigation of the globe.

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.