# 1732 - 1978 13c Captain Cook Bicentennial, Alaska
Captain Cook Bicentennial
Birth Of Explorer James Cook
Cook attended school for five years before leaving to work with his father on a farm. At age 16, Cook found a job as a shop boy in a fishing village. He soon realized he wasn’t suited to this work, but instead, was drawn to the sea.
Cook traveled to the nearby port town of Whitby and got an apprenticeship with the merchant navy. This gave him experience at sea and the chance to study mathematics, navigation, and astronomy, all of which would help him later in his career as a navigator.
Cook completed his apprenticeship and was offered command of his own vessel, but instead joined the British Navy, where he would have better opportunities for advancement. At the time, the French and Indian war was raging in North America. In 1759, Cook conducted a dangerous mission, entering French territory in Canada to survey the Saint Lawrence River for the navy. His accurate charts enabled the British to capture the city of Quebec later that year, a key turning point in the war.
During that expedition, Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot in the Hawaiian Islands on January 18, 1778. Cook named Hawaii the “Sandwich Islands,” after the British chief naval minister, the Earl of Sandwich. The Hawaiians believed Cook had divine powers and considered him a great chief. After engaging in friendly trade, Cook left the islands after two weeks.
Cook’s arrival in Hawaii coincided with an important festival. Many historians speculate that the islanders believed Cook was fulfilling a Hawaiian legend – the return of their “sea god,” Lono. Regardless, the Europeans were welcomed with great hospitality. However, friction soon developed between the crew and the islanders.
Cook was respected so greatly that, among many other honors, Russia named an island group near New Zealand after him (the Cook Islands). Perhaps the greatest praise came from Benjamin Franklin. As the American Colonies battled Great Britain for independence in the Revolutionary War, battles were often fought at sea. Any ship of the opposing nation was potential prey – with one exception.
Click here to visit the website of the Captain Cook Society, which has a wealth of information on Cook’s life and voyages.
Captain Cook Bicentennial
Birth Of Explorer James Cook
Cook attended school for five years before leaving to work with his father on a farm. At age 16, Cook found a job as a shop boy in a fishing village. He soon realized he wasn’t suited to this work, but instead, was drawn to the sea.
Cook traveled to the nearby port town of Whitby and got an apprenticeship with the merchant navy. This gave him experience at sea and the chance to study mathematics, navigation, and astronomy, all of which would help him later in his career as a navigator.
Cook completed his apprenticeship and was offered command of his own vessel, but instead joined the British Navy, where he would have better opportunities for advancement. At the time, the French and Indian war was raging in North America. In 1759, Cook conducted a dangerous mission, entering French territory in Canada to survey the Saint Lawrence River for the navy. His accurate charts enabled the British to capture the city of Quebec later that year, a key turning point in the war.
During that expedition, Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot in the Hawaiian Islands on January 18, 1778. Cook named Hawaii the “Sandwich Islands,” after the British chief naval minister, the Earl of Sandwich. The Hawaiians believed Cook had divine powers and considered him a great chief. After engaging in friendly trade, Cook left the islands after two weeks.
Cook’s arrival in Hawaii coincided with an important festival. Many historians speculate that the islanders believed Cook was fulfilling a Hawaiian legend – the return of their “sea god,” Lono. Regardless, the Europeans were welcomed with great hospitality. However, friction soon developed between the crew and the islanders.
Cook was respected so greatly that, among many other honors, Russia named an island group near New Zealand after him (the Cook Islands). Perhaps the greatest praise came from Benjamin Franklin. As the American Colonies battled Great Britain for independence in the Revolutionary War, battles were often fought at sea. Any ship of the opposing nation was potential prey – with one exception.
Click here to visit the website of the Captain Cook Society, which has a wealth of information on Cook’s life and voyages.