The 18th century was an era of exploration for European maritime powers. A young man named James Cook joined the British Royal Navy in 1755 and by 1768 embarked on his first expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Aboard HMS Endeavour, Cook became the first European to sail around New Zealand and visit Australia. He conducted two more voyages of discovery before his death on a Hawaiian beach at the hands of enraged islanders. 

His accurate maps and observations of foreign lands were invaluable to the Royal Navy and his contributions to navigation and science helped shape the modern world.