Leslie Massey
Captain James Cook is a central figure in Australian history. He made three voyages to the South Seas, the first of which began in 1768. On his first voyage, he observed the Transit of Venus and searched for the Great South Land, which was thought to exist somewhere to the east of Australia. On his second voyage, he charted Australia's eastern coastline and claimed the land for Great Britain on 22 August 1770, naming it New South Wales. However, it is important to note that the idea that Cook discovered Australia has been debunked, as he was not the first to explore and map parts of Australia. Furthermore, his encounters with Indigenous populations and his behaviour in the Pacific have been the subject of scrutiny.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | James Cook |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Ship | HMB Endeavour |
| Destination | South Seas |
| Purpose | To observe the Transit of Venus, make discoveries to the South and West of Cape Horn, and seek out a 'continent or land of great extent' |
| Dates | 1768-1779 |
| Achievements | Claimed the eastern portion of the Australian continent for the British Crown, naming it New South Wales; discovered the Hawaiian Islands |
| Legacy | Led to the establishment of a British penal colony in New South Wales 18 years later |
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What You'll Learn
Captain Cook's journey to Australia
Captain James Cook made three voyages to the South Seas between 1768 and 1779. The first voyage began in 1768 when Cook set sail from England on the HMS Endeavour. He carried with him secret orders from the British Admiralty to seek "a Continent or Land of great extent" and to take possession of that country "in the Name of the King of Great Britain".
During this voyage, Cook observed the Transit of Venus in Tahiti and spent three months mapping the island. He then sailed to Huahine, Bora Bora, and Raiatea before heading southwest in search of the Great South Land. Failing to find it, he sailed to New Zealand and spent six months charting its coast. On his way back to England, he chose a route via the east coast of New Holland (now Australia). On 11 June 1770, the Endeavour struck the Great Barrier Reef and spent 18 dangerous days navigating the shoals, sandbanks, and coral reefs. On 17 August 1770, Cook wrote about the strain he was under, expressing his pleasure in being the first discoverer, even if it was of nothing more than sands and shoals.
On 22 August 1770, Cook claimed the eastern portion of the Australian continent for the British Crown, naming it New South Wales. In his journal, he wrote that the country did not produce anything that could become an article of trade to invite Europeans to settle there. However, 18 years later, the First Fleet arrived to establish a penal colony in New South Wales.
Cook's second voyage (1772-1775) aimed to establish whether there was an inhabited southern continent and to make astronomical observations. He made his first crossing of the Antarctic Circle in 1773, claiming that he had been further south than any person. During his third and final voyage (1776-1779), Cook attempted to locate a Northwest Passage, an ice-free sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was during this voyage that he discovered the Hawaiian Islands, where he was killed on 14 February 1779.
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The British claim Australian land
Captain James Cook claimed the eastern portion of the Australian continent for the British Crown on 22 August 1770, naming it New South Wales. In his journal, he wrote:
> So far as we know [it] doth not produce any one thing that can become an Article in trade to invite Europeans to fix a settlement upon it.
Cook's journey was the first of three voyages to the South Seas, commissioned by the British Admiralty to seek 'a Continent or Land of great extent' and to take possession of that country 'in the Name of the King of Great Britain'. The British had long been obsessed with investigating territories below the Equator, and the existence of a mysterious, mythical place called Terra Australis Incognita had intrigued philosophers, explorers and map-makers since it was first hypothesised by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
When the British landed in Australia, they saw a lack of evidence of farming and inhabitants who were primarily hunters and gatherers, not farmers. Therefore, the British believed that the Indigenous people were not agriculturally advanced, nor had they laid claim to the land through established agricultural practices. This belief was compounded by the fact that the British saw no form of Indigenous government, and so assumed that there was no 'valid' way to make a treaty with the Indigenous Australians.
The British claim of sovereignty over Australia was further solidified when the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 to establish a penal colony. The colony was established in New South Wales, the portion of Australia that Cook had claimed for the British Crown. The colony was governed by the Rule of Law, meaning that British laws applied and that every person should have access to the protections provided by the law. However, the way in which the law was enacted did not allow for equality before the law for all people, and actually further discriminated against and distanced the Indigenous Australians from the new legal system. Although the Governors were urged by the British Government to treat the native people with goodwill and kindness, ‘tolerance’ of the Indigenous people grew weary and the British failed to afford the Indigenous people with proper respect.
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![The Third and Last Voyage of Captain Cook [microform]: With an Introduction by Hugh Reginald Haweis](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51baaxyTr1L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Indigenous Australians' perspective
Captain James Cook's arrival in Australia and his interactions with Indigenous Australians have been widely discussed from the Indigenous Australians' perspective.
Professor John Maynard, a Worimi man from the Port Stephens region of New South Wales and one of the world's most respected voices on Indigenous history, has written extensively on the subject. Maynard acknowledges Cook's navigational and leadership skills but is critical of his actions concerning Aboriginal people. According to Maynard, Cook remains the scapegoat for the white invasion, and his actions unleashed cataclysmic consequences upon the Aboriginal people of the Australian continent.
From the Aboriginal perspective, Cook's arrival and subsequent British colonisation have been viewed as an invasion that disrupted their way of life. The symbolic use of James Cook is evident in the statement by Ray Rose, an Aboriginal Elder from Dirranbandi in south-western Queensland, who responded with "I'm Captain Cooked" when asked about his health after a stroke. This phrase conveys a sense of defeat or being "cooked" by Cook's actions.
Indigenous Australians have actively worked to reshape the understanding of history and give voice to their ancestors' stories. Dharawal leaders, for instance, are collaborating with libraries, museums, and linguists to re-evaluate European records and provide a new perspective on Australian history. Gweagal and Yuin woman Theresa Ardler is also committed to educating Australians about her ancestors' experiences during Cook's arrival.
The written records of Cook and his crew acknowledge the occurrence of conflict during the first encounter with Indigenous Australians. Journal entries describe Aboriginal men threatening the crew, leading to gunshots being fired at them, but the fate of the local men is unclear. Additionally, there are accounts of cultural misunderstandings, with Indigenous men initially mistaking Cook's ship for a low-lying cloud or the spirits of the dead in the Dharawal culture.
The celebration and commemoration of Cook's voyage by non-Indigenous Australians have been a source of division within the country, highlighting the differing viewpoints on the navigator's legacy.
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Captain Cook's admiration for Indigenous Australians
Captain James Cook made it to Australia, reaching the southern coast of New South Wales in 1770. He sailed north, charting Australia's eastern coastline and claiming the land for Great Britain on 22 August 1770.
However, it is important to acknowledge that Cook's actions had detrimental consequences for Indigenous Australians. By claiming the land for the British Crown, he contradicted the advice offered by Morton, prioritizing colonial ambitions over intercultural relations. This act of possession led to the establishment of a British penal colony in New South Wales 18 years later, significantly impacting the Indigenous communities already living in the region.
Professor John Maynard, a respected voice on Indigenous history, highlights the cataclysmic consequences of Cook's actions on the Aboriginal people of the Australian continent. The phrase "I'm Captain Cooked" has been used by Aboriginal communities to express the arrival of government representatives, indicating a changed way of life and contributing to Cook's complex legacy in Australia.
Overall, while there is evidence that Cook aimed to treat Indigenous Australians with respect and admiration, the broader implications of his voyage and the subsequent colonization had devastating effects on Indigenous communities.
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Captain Cook's death
Captain James Cook made three voyages to the Southern Hemisphere during his lifetime. On his first voyage, he travelled to Tahiti to observe the Transit of Venus and then sailed southwest in search of the Great South Land. On this voyage, he discovered New Zealand and charted its coast.
On his second voyage, Cook aimed to establish whether there was an inhabited southern continent and make astronomical observations. He made his first crossing of the Antarctic Circle and claimed that he had been further south than any other person.
On his third voyage, Cook attempted to locate a Northwest Passage, an ice-free sea route that linked the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. During this voyage, he discovered the Hawaiian Islands and became the first European to visit them.
On February 14, 1779, during his third visit to Hawaii, Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay. He had previously spent a month on the islands and was received with honour and rites that he failed to understand as identifying his arrival as that of Lono, a local deity. When he returned to the islands, his arrival caused confusion among the Hawaiians, and various incidents and thefts occurred. On the night of February 13, 1779, a cutter vessel was stolen from Cook's expedition. Negotiations with King Kalaniopuu for the return of the cutter collapsed after a lesser Hawaiian chief was shot to death. Cook and his men fired on the Hawaiians, but they were overwhelmed. In the ensuing confrontation, Cook, four British marines, and 17 Hawaiians were killed.
There are conflicting accounts of Cook's death. Some crew members claimed that Cook ordered the marines and boats to fire on the Hawaiians, while others suggested that he might not have given the order and was stabbed in the back while trying to stop the firing. Unofficial accounts by crew members depicted Cook as violent and temperamental, inflicting excessive punishments on his crew and the indigenous people. However, obituaries, poems, and tributes emphasised his leadership qualities and concern for the well-being of his crew and indigenous people.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Captain Cook reached the southern coast of Australia in 1770 and sailed north, charting Australia's eastern coastline.
Captain Cook claimed the eastern portion of the Australian continent for the British Crown, naming it New South Wales.
Captain Cook wrote about the Indigenous inhabitants of Australia, disputing the view that Aboriginal people were the most miserable in the world. He wrote:
> The natives of New Holland, they may seem to be the most wretched people on Earth, but in fact, they are the happiest people I have ever witnessed.
Captain Cook made three voyages to the South Seas. On his second voyage, he crossed the Antarctic Circle, claiming he had been further south than any other person. On his third voyage, he discovered the Hawaiian Islands, where he was killed in 1779.
