August 26, 2025 • 3 mins
On August 26th in Science History, a significant event took place in 1768 when Captain James Cook set sail from England on his first voyage of discovery aboard the HMS Endeavour. This historic journey would ultimately lead to the European discovery of the eastern coast of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands.
Cook's expedition was commissioned by the Royal Society and the Admiralty with the primary goal of observing the transit of Venus across the sun from the South Pacific. This astronomical event was of great scientific importance, as it would help astronomers calculate the distance between the Earth and the sun more accurately. Cook and his crew, which included the renowned botanist Joseph Banks, were also tasked with charting new territories and gathering scientific information about the lands and peoples they encountered.
After rounding Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, Cook reached Tahiti in April 1769, where he successfully observed the transit of Venus. He then opened sealed orders from the Admiralty, which instructed him to search for the hypothetical southern continent, Terra Australis Incognita.
Sailing westward, Cook became the first European to reach the east coast of New Zealand. He circumnavigated and charted the islands, proving that they were not part of a larger landmass. Continuing west, he then became the first European to encounter the eastern coastline of Australia at Point Hicks in April 1770.
Cook and his crew spent several months charting the coast, which he named New South Wales, and interacted with the indigenous Aboriginal peoples. They faced numerous challenges, including the near-sinking of the Endeavour when it ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Cook also discovered and named Botany Bay, which later became the site of the first British penal colony in Australia.
On the return voyage, Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia with remarkable accuracy, providing the first detailed maps of the region. He then sailed north, becoming the first European to reach the Hawaiian Islands in 1778.
Cook's first voyage was a resounding success, contributing significantly to the fields of astronomy, cartography, botany, and anthropology. The scientific knowledge gathered during the expedition greatly expanded European understanding of the South Pacific region and its inhabitants. Cook would go on to make two more voyages of discovery, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest explorers and navigators in history.
The departure of the HMS Endeavour on August 26, 1768, marked the beginning of an incredible journey that would forever change the course of history and scientific knowledge. It showcased the spirit of exploration, the thirst for scientific understanding, and the courage to venture into the unknown that characterized the Age of Enlightenment.
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Cook's expedition was commissioned by the Royal Society and the Admiralty with the primary goal of observing the transit of Venus across the sun from the South Pacific. This astronomical event was of great scientific importance, as it would help astronomers calculate the distance between the Earth and the sun more accurately. Cook and his crew, which included the renowned botanist Joseph Banks, were also tasked with charting new territories and gathering scientific information about the lands and peoples they encountered.
After rounding Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, Cook reached Tahiti in April 1769, where he successfully observed the transit of Venus. He then opened sealed orders from the Admiralty, which instructed him to search for the hypothetical southern continent, Terra Australis Incognita.
Sailing westward, Cook became the first European to reach the east coast of New Zealand. He circumnavigated and charted the islands, proving that they were not part of a larger landmass. Continuing west, he then became the first European to encounter the eastern coastline of Australia at Point Hicks in April 1770.
Cook and his crew spent several months charting the coast, which he named New South Wales, and interacted with the indigenous Aboriginal peoples. They faced numerous challenges, including the near-sinking of the Endeavour when it ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Cook also discovered and named Botany Bay, which later became the site of the first British penal colony in Australia.
On the return voyage, Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia with remarkable accuracy, providing the first detailed maps of the region. He then sailed north, becoming the first European to reach the Hawaiian Islands in 1778.
Cook's first voyage was a resounding success, contributing significantly to the fields of astronomy, cartography, botany, and anthropology. The scientific knowledge gathered during the expedition greatly expanded European understanding of the South Pacific region and its inhabitants. Cook would go on to make two more voyages of discovery, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest explorers and navigators in history.
The departure of the HMS Endeavour on August 26, 1768, marked the beginning of an incredible journey that would forever change the course of history and scientific knowledge. It showcased the spirit of exploration, the thirst for scientific understanding, and the courage to venture into the unknown that characterized the Age of Enlightenment.
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to This Moment in Science History podcast on August
twenty sixth. In science history, a significant event took place
in seventeen sixty eight when Captain James Cook set sail
from England on his first Voyage of Discovery aboard the
HMS Endeavor. This historic journey would ultimately lead to the
European discovery of the eastern coast of Australia and the
(00:23):
Hawaiian Islands. Cook's expedition was commissioned by the Royal Society
and the Admiralty with the primary goal of observing the
transit of Venus across the Sun from the South Pacific.
This astronomical event was of great scientific importance as it
would help astronomers calculate the distance between the Earth and
the Sun more accurately. Cook and his crew, which included
(00:47):
the renowned botanist Joseph Banks, were also tasked with charting
new territories and gathering scientific information about the lands and
peoples they encountered. After rounding Cape Horn at the southern
tip of South America, Cook reached Tahiti in April seventeen
sixty nine, where he successfully observed the transit of Venus.
(01:08):
He then opened sealed orders from the Admiralty which instructed
him to search for the hypothetical southern continent Terra Australis incognita.
Sailing westward, Cook became the first European to reach the
east coast of New Zealand. He circumnavigated and charted the islands,
proving that they were not part of a larger land mass.
Continuing west, he then became the first European to encounter
(01:32):
the eastern coast line of Australia, at Point Hicks in
April seventeen seventy. Cook and his crew spent several months
charting the coast, which he named New South Wales, and
interacted with the indigenous Aboriginal peoples. They faced numerous challenges,
including the near sinking of the Endeavor when it ran
aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Cook also discovered and
(01:53):
named Botany Bay, which later became the site of the
first British penal colony in Australia. On the return voyage,
Cook charged to the eastern coast of Australia with remarkable accuracy,
providing the first detailed maps of the region. He then
sailed north, becoming the first European to reach the Hawaiian
Islands in seventeen seventy eight. Cook's first voyage was a
resounding success, contributing significantly to the fields of astronomy, cartography, botany,
(02:18):
and anthropology. The scientific knowledge gathered during the expedition greatly
expanded European understanding of the South Pacific region and its inhabitants.
Cook would go on to make two more voyages of discovery,
cementing his legacy as one of the greatest explorers and
navigators in history. The departure of the HMS Endeavor on
August twenty sixth, seventeen sixty eight marked the beginning of
(02:40):
an incredible journey that would forever change the course of
history and scientific knowledge. It showcased the spirit of exploration,
the thirst for scientific understanding, and the courage to venture
into the unknown that characterized the age of Enlightenment. And
that wraps it up for another episode. Please subscribe and
join us tomorrow for another great moment and science. This
(03:01):
has been a Quiet Please Studios Production. For more check
out Quiet Please dot Ai. Thank you for listening.
Welcome to This Moment in Science History podcast on August
twenty sixth. In science history, a significant event took place
in seventeen sixty eight when Captain James Cook set sail
from England on his first Voyage of Discovery aboard the
HMS Endeavor. This historic journey would ultimately lead to the
European discovery of the eastern coast of Australia and the
(00:23):
Hawaiian Islands. Cook's expedition was commissioned by the Royal Society
and the Admiralty with the primary goal of observing the
transit of Venus across the Sun from the South Pacific.
This astronomical event was of great scientific importance as it
would help astronomers calculate the distance between the Earth and
the Sun more accurately. Cook and his crew, which included
(00:47):
the renowned botanist Joseph Banks, were also tasked with charting
new territories and gathering scientific information about the lands and
peoples they encountered. After rounding Cape Horn at the southern
tip of South America, Cook reached Tahiti in April seventeen
sixty nine, where he successfully observed the transit of Venus.
(01:08):
He then opened sealed orders from the Admiralty which instructed
him to search for the hypothetical southern continent Terra Australis incognita.
Sailing westward, Cook became the first European to reach the
east coast of New Zealand. He circumnavigated and charted the islands,
proving that they were not part of a larger land mass.
Continuing west, he then became the first European to encounter
(01:32):
the eastern coast line of Australia, at Point Hicks in
April seventeen seventy. Cook and his crew spent several months
charting the coast, which he named New South Wales, and
interacted with the indigenous Aboriginal peoples. They faced numerous challenges,
including the near sinking of the Endeavor when it ran
aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Cook also discovered and
(01:53):
named Botany Bay, which later became the site of the
first British penal colony in Australia. On the return voyage,
Cook charged to the eastern coast of Australia with remarkable accuracy,
providing the first detailed maps of the region. He then
sailed north, becoming the first European to reach the Hawaiian
Islands in seventeen seventy eight. Cook's first voyage was a
resounding success, contributing significantly to the fields of astronomy, cartography, botany,
(02:18):
and anthropology. The scientific knowledge gathered during the expedition greatly
expanded European understanding of the South Pacific region and its inhabitants.
Cook would go on to make two more voyages of discovery,
cementing his legacy as one of the greatest explorers and
navigators in history. The departure of the HMS Endeavor on
August twenty sixth, seventeen sixty eight marked the beginning of
(02:40):
an incredible journey that would forever change the course of
history and scientific knowledge. It showcased the spirit of exploration,
the thirst for scientific understanding, and the courage to venture
into the unknown that characterized the age of Enlightenment. And
that wraps it up for another episode. Please subscribe and
join us tomorrow for another great moment and science. This
(03:01):
has been a Quiet Please Studios Production. For more check
out Quiet Please dot Ai. Thank you for listening.
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