HMB Endevour Enters Sydney Harbour is a photograph by Miroslava Jurcik which was uploaded on March 21st, 2015.
HMB Endevour Enters Sydney Harbour
The Australian-built replica of James Cook's HMB Endeavour is one of the world's most accurate maritime replica vessels. The replica was launched in... more
Title
HMB Endevour Enters Sydney Harbour
Artist
Miroslava Jurcik
Medium
Photograph
Description
The Australian-built replica of James Cook's HMB Endeavour is one of the world's most accurate maritime replica vessels. The replica was launched in 1993.
The Story of the Original Endeavour (Cooks Journey):
In 1767, the Royal Society of London petitioned King George III for a ship to send to the South Seas. They wanted to view the transit of the planet Venus across the sun, due to take place on 3 June 1769. It was an important event and had international cooperation with over 150 observers taking part around the world. Astronomers hoped that they could compile all their results to calculate the distance of the earth from the sun.
Endeavour was fitted out for the voyage and astronomer Charles Green was chosen by the Royal Society to sail with them to the newly discovered island of Tahiti for the observation. Helped by Captain James Cook and some of the Endeavour's officers, Green successfully noted the times for the transit.
Cook then followed his 'secret' orders from the Admiralty - to search for the supposed Great South Land. When Cook was unable to find this land, he continued to New Zealand, charted both islands and took notes on the people and their way of life. He sailed to the east coast of New Holland (Australia) and, turning Endeavour north, sailed up the east coast. Charting this unknown coast for the first time, the Endeavour was nearly lost when it struck a reef south of modern day Cooktown. Before leaving, Cook took possession of the eastern portion of Australia in the name of King George III.
Uploaded
March 21st, 2015