On this day in 1776, Captain James Cook set sail from Plymouth aboard the Resolution, with the Discovery in his wake, on what would be his final voyage. His journey ended tragically in Hawaii three years later, when he met his death in an altercation with the indigenous people.
It seems fitting, therefore, to post a photo of Aireyholme Farm, where Cook’s father was employed as a farm ‘hind’ or manager. One imagines the young Cook roaming these fields, his early curiosity ignited by the landscape. Though the farmhouse has undergone significant changes since the late 18th century, its essence remains.
In Hawaii, a series of unfortunate misunderstandings led to Cook’s death, along with those of five crew members and fifteen islanders. His untimely demise catapulted him into martyrdom; he became a legendary figure of the Enlightenment. Tributes abounded—eulogies, poems, music, and paintings commemorated his life and lamented his loss.
Cook is thus remembered by many as an extraordinary navigator, a hero, and an explorer. Yet, others view him as a looter, invader, a bringer of disease and a murderer. Accounts from that fateful Hawaiian beach reveal a more complex history, with some depicting him as the aggressor. As time has passed, these alternative narratives have gained prominence, painting a more intricate portrait of history.
Discovery implies the finding of something lost or unknown, yet the South Sea islanders never saw themselves as either. The arrival of Cook in 1769 profoundly altered their world, and the repercussions of that encounter still echo today.
During Cook’s three voyages, spanning a decade, it is estimated that his contact with fifteen different nations (defined by today’s boundaries) resulted in the deaths of at least twenty-five indigenous people and the injury of many others. One of the darkest incidents occurred at Poverty Bay, New Zealand, in October 1769, where four Maori were killed, five wounded, and three taken captive. These actions starkly contravened the instructions given to Cook by the Earl of Morton, President of the Royal Society, sponsors of the voyage.
While we cannot alter history, we can re-evaluate the ‘facts’. It is essential to scrutinise how Governments have utilised the accounts and evidence gathered by explorers like Cook to justify subsequent actions. In this debate, the voices of those affected by these historical events, including those impacted by Cook’s legacy, must be heard.
Cook alone cannot bear the full burden for the treatment of indigenous peoples throughout history. The conduct of subsequent generations and contemporary society must also be examined, leading to necessary change. Should rational examination of the ‘facts’ warrant a revision of our history books, then they must be rewritten to include a reassessment of colonialisation and its ongoing injustices.
The depth of feeling that Cook inspires in the South Pacific is perhaps best captured by this portrait of him at the Australian National Maritime Museum by Chris O’Doherty, also known as Reg Mombassa.
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