1779

Captain James Cook

Cook led three great voyages of discovery. Among his many achievements, he chartered the islands of the Pacific from New Zealand to Hawaii with an accuracy that was previously unknown and is forever characterised in the names of his ships. ...Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure and Discovery!

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He came out of retirement in 1776 to find the North-West Passage...

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"...farther than any man has been before me,

but as far as I think it possible for man to go."
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Hawaii would be his undoing!

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His ships were forced to return to Hawaii for repairs. This time the natives were not so friendly. Cook and a party of 9 marines went ashore to kidnap the king in retaliation for the theft of a small boat. Angry natives were waiting, they hurled rocks and opened fire. Cook was stabbed to death. An obelisk now sits were he fell.

Image: Bernice P. Bishop Museum/Wikipedia • Believed to be in Public Domain (Age - Copyright expired)