Vaisseau monte par le Capitaine Cook dans son dernier voyage

ArtistAfter Edward William Cooke (1811 - 1880)

Engraver Leleux

Datec 1831

Object number00000958

NamePrint

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 150 x 203 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionAn engraving from 'France Maritime' titled 'Vaisseau monte par le Capitaine Cook dans son dernier Voyage'. Engraved by Leleux after a painting by Edward William Cooke. Although this French print attributes the ship to being the HMS DISCOVERY that accompanied Cook on his third voyage, it is in fact the HMS DISCOVERY that was built in 1789 and was part of Captain Vancouver’s later voyage to Australia, the Pacific and North America.HistoryThe HMS DISCOVERY was built in 1789 and named after the DISCOVERY that was part of Captain Cook's ill-fated voyage in which he attempted to discover a northwest passage. In 1791 Captain George Vancouver left England on board the DISCOVERY and accompanied by HMS CHATHAM set sail south. His first directive was to explore the south-west reaches of New Holland and then determine if indeed Van Diemen’s Land was joined to the mainland. In the course of the survey he chartered over 483 km of coast and although he did not manage to traverse the Great Australian Bight, he did manage to report to Governor Phillip the survey they had made of the south west and indicated to him that King George Sound was an area which Vancouver thought 'worthy of some further attention'. After his visit to Australia Vancouver took the ships north to the Pacific where one of his primary purposes was to survey the west coast of North America up to what is now known as Alaska. It was a huge undertaking and Vancouver realised it was best achieved by using crews in small boats, rowing along the coast and up any inlets they discovered, again pursuing the elusive north west passage. In addition to his survey work Vancouver was given the task of negotiating with the Spanish contingent stationed at Nootka Sound to ensure British interests and sovereignty was maintained after earlier disputes. After returning to England in 1795, Vancouver was confident he had achieved his directives. Indeed his voyage of discovery was incredibly thorough and filled in many gaps left by Cook. Vancouver’s charts are still useable today and in addition to many other maritime achievements one were only losing six crew in five years which was remarkable for the time. All before the age of 38. SignificanceGeorge Vancouver spent seven years under Captain James Cook sailing with him during his second and third voyages to the Pacific.
Later, as Captain aboard the HMS DISCOVERY Vancouver surveyed much of the south west coast of Australia during which time he named King Georges Sound and was the first European to discover and name the Banksia Grandis, or banksia, named after Joseph Banks who had been an advocate of Vancouver's voyage back in England.