Captain James Cook and the Pacific Northwest

The British Exploration of the Pacific Coast of America

Apr 11, 2009 Dale Raugust

Captain James Cook was a British explorer who searched in vain for the legendary Northwest Passage and in the process explored the coastline of Washington and Oregon.

Captain James Cook, (1728-1779) was a British navigator and explorer. He became an apprentice on a ship of commerce at the age of 18 and later joined the British Navy. In 1759 he entered French territory to map the Saint Lawrence River for the navy which assisted the British in capturing Quebec a year later. Fifteen years later he commanded the first of three voyages of long duration, twice sailing around the world and exploring New Zealand and Australia during his first voyage in 1769 and 1770 and again during his second voyage from 1772-1775. It was during this second voyage that he crossed the Antarctic Circle.

Exploration of the Pacific Northwest

It was only during his third voyage that he reached the Pacific Northwest, exploring Vancouver Island and continuing up the coast through the Bering Strait. His northern exploration was blocked by ice so he headed back to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) where he was killed in 1779 by natives over a dispute concerning a stolen boat.

The Quest for the Northwest Passage

Cook was called out of retirement to lead his third and fatal final voyage with a secret, yet well known to the Americans, purpose of finding the mystical Northwest Passage. Success in such a goal would establish Cook as a legend, even more so than he already was, and also make his fortune. Although success in such a lofty goal was impractical for the era, Cook’s voyage was important in establishing that such a passage did not exist as a viable option and in establishing a British claim to the coastal lands from the Columbia to Alaska.

Captain Cook in the Northwest

Cook sailed first around the Cape of Good Hope to New Zealand, then to the Cook Islands and finally to the Sandwich Island. He took his time and did not reach the coast of the Pacific Northwest until the spring of 1778. Cook was instructed to land no further south than forty-five degrees north latitude to avoid conflict with Spanish claims and to explore north of this location. Forth-five degrees north latitude is about halfway between present day Newport and Tillamook Bay, Oregon, or not too far south of the Columbia River. His instructions were to follow the coast north but not to explore the coast in detail until he reached sixty-five degrees, which is at the Bering Strait, the sea that separates Aklaska from Russia, so Cook’s instructions were to look for the Northwest Passage north of the Bering Strait. Cook did pass through the Bering Strait sailing as high as seventy degrees north latitude only to be blocked by ice. He returned to the Sandwich Islands late in 1778 where he met his untimely death.

Cook's Contribution, Followed up by George Vancouver

Cook’s most significant contact with the mainland was at Nootka on Vancouver Island where he camped for a month to make repairs to his ships. It was during this time that substantial contract with the natives was made and a foundation for future trade was established. Cook’s voyage started a wave of European and American explorations in the area and the publication of the Voyage’s official records establish the British claim to the region. Cook’s voyage would be followed up by a member of his crew, George Vancouver, who explored and mapped many of the areas around Puget Sound.

Sources:

Carlos Schwantes, The Pacific Northwest, An Interpretive History, Revised and enlarged edition, 1996.

The copyright of the article Captain James Cook and the Pacific Northwest in American History is owned by Dale Raugust. Permission to republish Captain James Cook and the Pacific Northwest in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.