Captain James Cook in Atlantic Canada: The adventurer and map maker's formative years

by Jerry Lockett

The skills, knowledge and experience that took Captain James Cook to the South Seas and around the world seemed to come out of nowhere. In fact, as author Jerry Lockett has discovered, their foundation was laid during the time he spent in Atlantic Canada. His experiences on Canada's east coast and the naval men he met there shaped him to become one of the most successful explorers of all time.

Cook arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1758 as a competent but undistinguished warrant officer in Britain's Royal Navy. Over the next nine years he learned the complex skill of navigation and prepared many detailed maps of the coastline and key harbours. He left with the skills and reputation that made him an obvious choice to lead a voyage of exploration to the far side of the world.

In this absorbing and well-researched biography Jerry Lockett tells us of Cook's experiences as a young man and of the influential men who became his mentors and patrons. He also describes Cook's role in the key British military actions at Louisbourg and Quebec which brought an effective end to the French regime in North America.

200 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2010

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an award winning book, but I found it repetitive and it was criticized by the NS Historical Journal. Interesting and not well known information about his long tenure in Halifax, participation in the final capture of Louisbourg and Quebec, mapping areas of the St Lawrence River and much of Newfoundland's coast before he was sent to the Pacific. It was in eastern Canada where he learned charting and map making, mathematics and astronomy, the calculation of longitude, and developed his own ideas for preventing scurvy in his crew - partly using a native remedy - homemade spruce beer.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and amazing that the maps made by cook were still used for so many years without change, and with basic tools. Could be used in schools for history support.