A view of Endeavour River on the coast of New Holland

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 PAJ2143, with PAJ2145 - PAJ2206.

Object Details

ID: PAJ2163
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Byrne, William; Parkinson, Sydney
Date made: 1773
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 204 x 474 mm
Parts: Plates of Cook's Voyages - Voyage 1 (Album)