Captain James Cook

Captain James Cook was an 18th-century British explorer and navigator known for his three major voyages across the Pacific Ocean. Born in 1728, he is celebrated for mapping vast areas, including New Zealand and the eastern coastline of Australia, significantly enhancing European knowledge of the region. Cook's expeditions also aimed to observe the transit of Venus, gather scientific information, and establish British claims over new territories. His efforts contributed to the age of exploration, but his encounters with indigenous peoples often had lasting, negative impacts. Cook was killed in Hawaii in 1779, leaving a complex legacy of discovery and colonization.