James Cook
James Cook (1728-79) was an English sailing ship Captain, Navigator, and Pacific Ocean expedition leader. James Cook was born on 27 October 1728 in Matron, England. His father was a poor farm labourer who had worked his way up to Overseer. James began as a farm labourer and grocer’s assistant. He soon found employment on the Baltic Sea in a Collier (coal transport ship) at the age of 18. During the war with the French in 1755, James Cook enlisted as an Able Seaman on the Eagle. Within a month he was promoted, because of outstanding ability, to Master’s Mate. Four years later, he was promoted to Master. In command of his own ship, James Cook performed a crucial charting of the St. Lawrence River.
