Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- Captain James Cook (1728-1779) joined the British Navy as a seaman in 1755 and rose rapidly in rank during the Seven Year's War. He surveyed the St. Lawrence River, and played an important role in the capture of Quebec. In 1759, he became master of flagship Northumberland, and spent summers from 1763-67 surveying the coast of Newfoundland. He made three voyages to the South Pacific, explored New Zealand and Australia, and discovered New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. The collection consists of playbills for the play Omai and for Captain Cook.
- Extent:
- 1 oversize box
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection consists of two playbills relating to Captain James Cook, performed in England. They are for the play Omai, performed on April 6, 1786 and for Captain Cook, performed September 13, 1818.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Cook was born on October 27, 1728 at Marton-in-Cleveland near Whitby, Yorkshire, England; first apprenticed to a storekeeper at Staithes, then in 1746 with Walker Brothers, shipowners at Whitby; joined British Navy as a seaman in 1755, rising rapidly in rank during the Seven Year's War; surveyed the St. Lawrence River, and played an important role in the capture of Quebec; in 1759, he became master of flagship Northumberland, and spent summers from 1763-67 surveying the coast of Newfoundland; made three voyages to the South Pacific; in the Endeavor he explored New Zealand and Australia, where the botanist Joseph Banks studied the plant life; on his next voyage in the Resolution, he discovered New Caledonia and Norfolk Island; he discovered the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands on his final trip, but was slain by natives at Kealakekua Bay on February 14, 1779.
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Playbills.
- Names:
- Cook, James, 1728-1779.
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988