I think Captain James Cook must be considered one of the greatest men in history. His three voyages of exploration and discovery expanded human knowledge of geography, biology, botany, astronomy, cartography, and navigation. His seamanship, surveying, physical courage and leadership were impressive. However, what distinguishes Cook from other great persons in history is his pursuit of knowledge for knowlege's sake.
He discovered the east coast of Australia and confirmed it was a continent. He discovered the Hawaiian Islands. He mapped the Northwest coast of North America. He mapped the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and the entire coast of Newfoundland. I've been to Cook Inlet in Alaska, the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, and to Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii where he died. There is even a hotel in Anchorage named for him.
The command module of Apollo 15 was named after Cook's ship the HMS Endeavour, and so was the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Even one of the craters on the moon is named after Captain Cook...as is a town in Hawaii.
Captain Cook was so admired by Benjamin Franklin that American naval commanders during the Revolutionary War were ordered to grant Captain Cook, his ship and crew safe passage through all waters. Captain Cook was not only a British hero...he was a treasure for all mankind. Moreover, he reflects in many ways the high tide mark of Western Civilization.
He discovered the east coast of Australia and confirmed it was a continent. He discovered the Hawaiian Islands. He mapped the Northwest coast of North America. He mapped the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and the entire coast of Newfoundland. I've been to Cook Inlet in Alaska, the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, and to Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii where he died. There is even a hotel in Anchorage named for him.
The command module of Apollo 15 was named after Cook's ship the HMS Endeavour, and so was the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Even one of the craters on the moon is named after Captain Cook...as is a town in Hawaii.
Captain Cook was so admired by Benjamin Franklin that American naval commanders during the Revolutionary War were ordered to grant Captain Cook, his ship and crew safe passage through all waters. Captain Cook was not only a British hero...he was a treasure for all mankind. Moreover, he reflects in many ways the high tide mark of Western Civilization.