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Date Baptized
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October 27, 1728
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Death
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February 14, 1779
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Place of Birth
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Marton, Yorkshire
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Known For
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Proving that the fabled southern continent of Terra Australis did not exist
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Charting in great detail the South Pacific Ocean and the North American coastal waters
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Milestones
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1759-1767 Explored the St. Lawrence River and the waters off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, producing accurate surveys published by the government
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1768-1771 Undertook his first voyage to the South Pacific; observed the transit of Venus from Tahiti, and explored the two islands of New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, which he claimed for Britain and named New South Wales
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1771 Upon his return to England, was promoted to commander
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1772-1775 Undertook his second expedition to find a supposed southern continent called Terra Australis, and proved it did not exist
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January 17, 1773 Became the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle in recorded history
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1773 Sighted the islands subsequently named the Cook Islands
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1774 Discovered several islands, including New Caledonia, and charted the New Hebrides, the Marquesas, and Easter Island
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1775 Upon his return to England, was made a fellow of the Royal Society and awarded its Copley Medal for scientific achievement
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1776-1779 Undertook a third voyage to search for a Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
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1778 Discovered the Sandwich Islands, later renamed the Hawaiian Islands, and charted the North American coastline as far north as the Bering Strait
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February 14, 1779 Was killed in the Sandwich Islands during a fight with islanders over the theft of a boat
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Did You Know
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Cook's dietary and hygienic precautions kept the members of his expeditions in good health; only one man died during his second voyage.
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Cook and his men ate carrot marmalade and sauerkraut to prevent scurvy, a disease caused by prolonged vitamin C deficiency.
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George Vancouver, future explorer of Canada's west coast, and William Bligh, who later survived a mutiny as captain of the British merchant ship Bounty, both served on Cook's expeditions.
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