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James Cook - Biography

Cook, the future great navigator, was born on 27 October 1728 in Marton, a small village in northern England. He grew up in a peasant family and began his life in modest conditions. However, his innate interest in the sea and adventure became noticeable from childhood.

In 1746, at the age of 17, James joined the British Navy. He was trained and quickly promoted through the ranks through his navigational skills and leadership. Soon he became the second assistant captain on the naval ship Eagle and participated in the hostilities during the Seven Years War.

James quickly became known for his navigational skills and organizational skills. In 1768 he was selected as captain on the first of his three famous sea voyages. The Endeavour expedition was sent to the Pacific Ocean to study the passage of Venus between the Earth and the Sun, as well as to explore uncharted territories.

The sea voyage on the ship "Endeavour" was just the beginning of the adventures of James Cook. He continued his research on the following expeditions, including the second voyage on the ship "Resolution," and then the third on "Resolution" and "Discovery." During these expeditions, and his team explored the uncharted shores of Australia, New Zealand, the Hawaiian Islands and many other locations.

James Cook was famous not only as a navigator, but also as a person capable of establishing friendly relations with the indigenous peoples with whom he met. His interactions with Aboriginal and Native American Hawaiians became an example of respect and understanding for counter-cultures.

One of the most significant parts of his research was a mission to study the Pacific Ocean, during which he traveled huge distances and collected valuable scientific data on geography, biology and astronomy. His work has made substantial contributions to modern understanding of this vast ocean.