Example 1777 World Events

Cook’s 3 rd Voyage – Ch

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Captain James Cook embarked on his third and final voyage in 1776. Sailing the HMS Resolution his “decoy” mission was to explore the South Pacific. His real mission was to search the western shores of North America for the Northwest Passage to India. In 1778 he discovered the Hawaiian Islands. Cook returned to Hawaii in 1779 where he was killed. He never got to search for the non-existent Norwest Passage. On December 24 th 1777 Cook was exploring the local islands that are part of Christmas Island . It was named "Christmas Island" because it was discovered on Christmas Day, December 25 th , 1643. “About half an hour after day breake land was discovered which upon a nearer approach was found to be one of those low islands so common in this sea.” The next day Cook observed Christmas & dedicated the day to mirth and feasting – primarily on turtles. One party that morning had returned with more than 20 turtles. The same day Cook "having some cocoanuts and yams on board in a state of vegetation, ordered them to be planted on the island…” He also left on the island a bottle containing this inscription : Georgius Tertius Rex 31 Decembris 1777