Second voyage

James Cook · 1772 CE – 1775 CE · Earth

Settle whether a great southern continent exists in temperate latitudes.

Historical context

After the first voyage left the southern continent unsettled, Cook was sent to resolve the question once and for all. He crossed the Antarctic Circle three times and found only ice.

The voyage, step by step

1. Departure from Plymouth

   1772 CE

   Cook sails with two ships to settle once and for all whether a southern continent exists.

2. Crossing the Antarctic Circle

   1773 CE

   The ships push south into fog, snow and ice, the first to cross the circle.

3. A sweep across the southern ocean

   1774 CE

   The expedition circles the high southern latitudes before turning north.

4. Homecoming

   1775 CE

   After three years and no southern continent, Cook returns to England.

Outcome

Crossed the Antarctic Circle three times and found no temperate continent.

James Cook

British navigator who charted New Zealand and eastern Australia, crossed the Antarctic Circle and mapped much of the Pacific.

Read on Wikipedia

Sources

• James Cook — Wikipedia

Continue exploring

• First Pacific voyageJames Cook · 1768 CE – 1771 CE
• The first French circumnavigationLouis-Antoine de Bougainville · 1766 CE – 1769 CE
• The voyage of the Boussole and the AstrolabeJean-François de La Pérouse · 1785 CE – 1788 CE
• The open-boat voyage to TimorWilliam Bligh · 1789 CE