From humble beginnings to national hero, Captain James Cook is one of history's best known and most controversial explorers. Read all about his life, from charting the coasts of New Zealand and Australia and crossing the Antarctic Circle, to his fatal end in Hawaii.

Discover his story, and the legacy of his actions, in our Sackler Gallery: Pacific Encounters

28 Jul 2016
The Endeavour’s last resting place – the clue’s in the Caird!
Who would have guessed that the clue to solving a long running mystery about the final resting place of one of the world’s most famous ships lay buried in some fairly unassuming records in the Museum’s Caird Library?
19 Apr 2016
Tongan dances…in the Caird Library
Library Assistant Sonia Bacca looks at some fascinating Tongan dances, seen through our archives
Captain Cook, Sir Joseph Banks and tattoos in Tahiti
When Captain Cook returned from his first voyage he brought with him the term ‘tattoo’ if not the practice itself
James Cook North-West Passage expedition 1776–78
Captain James Cook came out of retirement to look for the North-West Passage in 1776. It was to be his last expedition and he never returned home.
William Hodges and Captain Cook
The artist William Hodges accompanied Captain Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific in 1772-74.
Captain James Cook’s Fatal Third Voyage
Cook fails to find the North-West Passage and meets his end in his third major expedition
Captain James Cook’s Second Voyage
Learn about Cook's search for the 'undiscovered southern continent', aided by 'our trusty friend the watch'
James Cook’s First Voyage
Science and secret missions in the South Seas; Cook’s first great voyage quickly became the stuff of national legend
Captain James Cook timeline
Follow the key events in Captain Cook's life of adventure from a simple start to global fame and a grisly death
The early life and career of James Cook
No one before (and few since) rose so far and so fast from a simple rural background to national fame