Birth and education--Enters the Royal Navy--Employed to take soundings in the Saint Lawrence--Diligence in study--Marriage--Expedition to observe the transit of Venus--Cook appointed to the command--Equipment of the _Endeavour_--Scientific men sail with him--Leave Plymouth--The nuns of Santa Clara--Jealousy of the Governor of Rio de Janeiro--Natives come on board--Their behaviour--Landing and exploring the country-- Overtaken by a snow-storm--Sufferings from cold--Return to the ship-- Voyage continued--Round Cape Horn--Run 700 leagues--Coral reefs--Naming islands--Anchor in Matavia Bay--Conduct of the natives--Captain Cook lands--Aspect of the country--Reception by the chiefs--Pocket-picking by the inhabitants--A thief shot--Annoyance of Captain Cook--Excursions up the country--Erect a fort--Punishment of one of the ship's company--The pity of the natives excited--Theft--Recovery of the property--The transit of Venus--The Queen Oberea--A native priest wishes to accompany the English--Dress, habits, and manufactures of the natives--The expedition sails--Islands visited--A famous warrior--Dancers--The Society Islands--Off Oheteroa--Opposition of the people--Anniversary of sailing--A comet--Discovery of New Zealand--Disturbance with the natives--Prisoners taken--Attempt to carry off a boy--Mercury Bay-- Furious Gale--Survey of New Zealand completed--Australia sighted-- Anchor, and go on shore--Conduct of the people--Botany Bay--Strikes a reef--Repairing the vessel--Australia--Sail for England--Sickness at Batavia--Arrival. Captain James Cook, who deservedly takes rank as the greatest of English explorers and navigators, was the son of a farm labourer, and born at Marton, near Stockton-upon-Tees, on the 27th of October, 1728. Shortly afterwards his father, an intelligent and industrious man, obtained a situation as farm bailiff to Mr Thomas Skottowe, of Airy-holme, near Ayton, in Yorkshire, by whom young James, when old enough, was sent to a commercial school, where he learned writing and the rules of arithmetic. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to Mr William Sanderson, a grocer and haberdasher, at the fishing town of Straiths, near Whitby. He remained with his master until he was about eighteen years of age, when, having a strong desire to go to sea, he obtained a release from his engagement, and having apprenticed himself to Messrs. Walker and Company, shipowners, of Whitby, he embarked on board one of their vessels--the _Truelove_, collier--trading between Newcastle and London. After having made several voyages, from his thorough knowledge of seamanship, he was raised to the rank of mate on board the _Friendship_.