Captain Cook in the Pacific - Softcover

Rigby, Nigel; Merwe, Pieter Van Der; Pieter, Merwe Van Der

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0948065435 ISBN 13: 9780948065439

Publisher: National Maritime Museum, 2005

Synopsis

James Cook was the greatest explorer of his age. Between 1768 and his death on Hawaii in 1779 he made three great Pacific voyages that had the same effect on his generation's view of the world as space exploration has had on ours. Born in 1723, son of a Yorkshire farm-worker, he rose from apprentice in the East Coast coal trade to be a skilled marine surveyor, Royal Naval captain and Fellow of the Royal Society.
Voyaging over then unknown seas from the Antarctic to Alaska, he discovered the east coast of New Zealand and Australia, most of the islands of the central Pacific and charted all he found with extraordinary accuracy and completeness. His voyages were also unprecedented for the health and well-being he maintained among his men.
The National Maritime Museum holds one of the world's great Cook collections and this account of his voyages, including their scientific and artistic aspects, draws on them to tell the story of man of whom it has been said, 'his competence changed the face of the world'.

About this title

Synopsis:

Captain Cook is generally acknowledged as the first great European scientific explorer. Despite his ordinary roots, he had risen through the ranks to become a remarkable officer. Hisexploration of the South Pacific resulted not only in the charting of New Zealand, the east cost of Australia and many Pacific islands, but also in the discovery and description of many plants, societies and animals previously unknown to Europeans. This book, published to accompany theNational Maritime Museum's groundbreaking new exhibition on ocean exploration "Oceans of Discovery", provides and overview of Cook's achievements. With chapters on Cook's great voyages, scientific exploration, ship construction, cannibalism and art, this book is a fascinating and accessible account, featuring many beautiful images from the Museum's own collection.

About the Author:

Pieter van der Merwe is the National Maritime Museum's General Editor.

About this edition

• Publisher: National Maritime Museum
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0948065435
• ISBN 13: 9780948065439
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144