Cook, British Naval Expedition

This material is held atScott Polar Research Institute Archives, University of Cambridge

  • Reference
    • GB 15 James Cook/British Naval Expedition
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1772-1775
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • Log book. The log book is on microfilm.

Scope and Content

  • MS 1430;MJ Logbook and fragmentary documents of second voyage, 1772-1775, microfilm

Administrative / Biographical History

This was Cook's second voyage of exploration circumnavigating the earth in high southern latitude. The two ships HMS Resolution (Captained by Cook) and HMS Adventure (Captained by Tobias Furneaux crossed the Antarctic circle for the first time on 17 January 1773, the expedition achieved a furthest south of 71° on 30 January 1774. This expedition proved that the supposed 'Southern Continent's did not extend into temperate waters.

During the voyage a landing was made on South Georgia, In 1775 the expedition discovered the South Sandwich Islands, naming them for the then First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Sandwich.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Alternative Form Available

This is a copy.

Related Material

The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a number of photographs, film and other illustrative material in the Picture Library, this includes several images of Cook's expedition ships HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure, the library also holds images of his earlier expedition ship HMS Endeavour and other images of his voyages. The catalogue can be searched on line by going to the Picture Library Database and selecting the Enter Polar Pictures link.

Location of Originals

The original logbook held by the British Museum, (reference Add. 27,887 and 27,899) (in 1982)