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Finding Aid for the Playbills Relating to Captain James Cook, 1786-1818
650  
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Description
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.
Background
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.
Extent
1 oversize box
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.