Character Catalog

Cook drew the first accurate and complete charts of both islands of New Zealand. These charts, remarkably precise for their time, remained the reference for navigators for over a century.

During the first voyage, Cook surveyed and charted nearly 4,000 km of Australian coastline, paving the way for British colonisation of the continent.

Official publication of the account of the first voyage, compiled from the journals of Cook and botanist Joseph Banks. The work was an immense success in Europe and spread knowledge of the peoples of the Pacific.

Account of the second voyage written by Cook himself. In it he describes his Antarctic explorations and concludes that there is no easily accessible southern continent, correcting a centuries-old geographical belief.

Posthumous publication of the account of the third voyage, completed by Captain James King. It contains the first detailed description of the Hawaiian Islands and the north-west coasts of America.

During the third voyage, Cook explored and charted the coasts of Alaska and the Bering Strait with the aim of finding an arctic sea passage connecting the Pacific to the Atlantic.

We had now made the circuit of the globe in these southern latitudes... and I flatter myself that no one will think that I have left it much to the advantage of any future navigator.

The observations of the transit of Venus were made with as much accuracy as the nature of the instrument admitted of, and I have the satisfaction to believe that the phenomenon was observed to the advantage of astronomy.

I had now made the circuit of the Southern Ocean in a high Latitude and traversed it in such a manner as to leave not the least room for the possibility of there being a continent, unless near the Pole.

The introduction of Sour Krout into the Navy will be attended with good effects, as the crew of the Resolution can testify, not a man having been troubled with Scurvy during the whole Voyage.

Location for observing the transit of Venus in 1769 during the first voyage. Cook established relations with the inhabitants and produced a detailed chart of the island.

Bay where the Endeavour landed in April 1770, marking the first documented European contact with the eastern Australian coast. Botanist Joseph Banks collected hundreds of previously unknown plants there.

Cook circumnavigated and charted both islands of New Zealand between 1769 and 1770, establishing that they were not part of a vast southern continent.

Bay where Cook was welcomed as a hero during his final voyage, and where he was killed on 14 February 1779 during a violent altercation with the inhabitants.

Port where the young Cook served his apprenticeship as a sailor in the coal trade. The type of vessel he learned to handle there — the bark — inspired the choice of the Endeavour for his first voyage.

Navigation instrument used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies in order to determine latitude. Cook was highly proficient with this tool and used it to produce charts of unprecedented accuracy.

During his second voyage, Cook tested a replica of John Harrison's chronometer, enabling precise calculation of longitude at sea. This technical breakthrough permanently transformed oceanic navigation.

Cook kept detailed navigation logs and produced hydrographic charts of remarkable rigor. His charts of New Zealand and Australia remained in use for over a century.

An essential tool for measuring angles between coastal landmarks and drawing accurate charts. Cook made extensive use of it during his surveys of Pacific coastlines.

Navy blue coat with gilt buttons, the symbol of a captain's rank in the Royal Navy. Cook, who came from a modest background, rose through every level of the naval hierarchy by virtue of his exceptional merit.

Indispensable for spotting coastlines, reefs, and ships on the horizon. Cook used the telescope to observe shores before sending longboats to carry out coastal surveys.