What Did James Cook Discover?
Quick Answer
James Cook discovered the South Sandwich Islands, explored the east coast of Australia and made the first firmly documented visit to Hawaii. He was one of the most important explorers in European history.
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Full Answer
James Cook was not successful in all of his goals as an explorer, however. One of his main goals on his second voyage was to find Terra Australis Incognita, a vast southern continent. He also aimed to find the Northwest Passage, a path connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean across the top of North America. Both of these are nonexistent. The journey to discover these places, however, led him to expand the fields of navigation and cartography and helped the scientists on the voyages with him learn much about botany, biology and astronomy.
Learn more about Exploration & ImperialismRelated Questions
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Q:
Which Countries Did Captain James Cook Discover?
A: Captain James Cook is credited with being the first European to make contact with the Hawaiian Islands and the eastern coast of Australia, and the first Eu... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
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Where Did James Cook Go on His Voyage?
A: The English explorer Captain James Cook made three voyages between 1768 and 1779. On the first, he mapped New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia. O... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why Did James Cook Explore?
A: As an explorer and astronomer, James Cook traveled all over the world for many reasons. The primary purpose of his first expedition, which was to Tahiti, w... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How Did James Cook Die?
A: James Cook died on Feb. 14, 1779, after he was clubbed on the head and speared by a native Hawaiian. His death occurred in a battle on the beach at Kealake... Full Answer >Filed Under:
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