Navigation and history of science: 1768-2018. 250th anniversary of James Cook’s first voyage

• Main Author: Ignacio Jáuregui-Lobera
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asociación Para el Progreso de la Biomedicina 2018-06-01
• Series: Jounal of Negative and No Positive Results
• Subjects: James Cook; ; Endeavour; circumnavigation; ; New Zealand; Australia; chronometer; ; scurvy; hydrography
• Online Access: https://www.jonnpr.com/PDF/2462.pd

On August 26, 1768, the British Lieutenant James Cook, commanding the ship HMS Endeavour, sailed from Plymouth (England). On July 12, 1771, James Cook arrived at the port of Deal (England) after sailing almost three years. It was his first great voyage, of which this year 2018 the 250th anniversary is commemorated. James Cook carried out important hydrographic, cartographic and astronomical works. Although he used cartographic material that Englishmen had seized from the Spaniards in Manila, this fact does not diminish his merit as a great navigator. He was also the first who used a watch derived from the Harrison's chronometer, he has been considered the "global father of hydrography" and he was the first navigator who managed to return from a great voyage with the least number of scurvy cases up to date.