A view of Endeavour River, on the coast of New Holland, where the ship was laid on shore, in order to repair the damage which she received on the rock

An engraving by William Byrne done after a lost drawing likely by Sydney Parkinson in 1770. Parkinson was a Scottish botanist and natural history artist employed by Joseph Banks on Captain James Cook's first Endeavor voyage to the Pacific from 1768-1771. The drawing was then engraved in John Hawkesworth's Voyages (an account of the journeys by Captain Cook, Vice Admiral John Byron, and Joseph Banks published on behalf of the Admirality in 1773). Captain Cook (1728-1779) made three separate voyages to the Pacific (with the ships Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure, and Discovery) and did more than any other voyager to explore the Pacific and Southern Ocean. Cook not only encountered Pacific cultures for the first time, but also assembled the first large-scale collections of Pacific objects to be brought back to Europe. He was killed in Hawaii in 1779.

In June 1770 the 'Endeavour' was badly damaged running aground on the Great Barrier Reef. The ship limped into Endeavour River on the coast of New South Wales for repair. Anchors, cables and stores were carried ashore to lighten the ship which was then 'careened', or leant over, so that the damage could be inspected and repaired and the voyage continued.

Mounted in album with PAI3938-PAI3987, PAI3989-PAI4076.; Page 44.; Typewritten title stuck below image.; Plate No.19.

Object Details

ID: PAI3988
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Byrne, William; Parkinson, Sydney
Places: Endeavour River
Vessels: Endeavour (1764)
Date made: 1773
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 247 x 504 mm
Parts: Atlas to Cook's Voyages Vol I 1773-1777. (Illustrations are from Hawkesworth's 'Voyages to the Southern Hemisphere', all volumes, and Cook [ed. Douglas] 'A Voyage towards the South Pole... ' [1773-75], page 70 onwards) (Album)