The Adventures of Captain Cook: Ships & Crew

Captain Cook used 4 different ships during his voyages.  They were named Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure, and Discovery. Check out the YouTube video below of a replica of Endeavor.

Adventure

Adventure accompanied Discovery on Captain Cook's second voyage and was captained by Tobias Furneaux.  Adventure was a smaller edition of the Resolution with a compliment of 81 men and 1 civilian. The Adventure first crossed into the Antarctic in January 1773.  During the journey, Adventure and Discovery were separated twice.  Adventure was nearly wecked near Tahiti when swept onto some reefs.

Discovery

Discovery was the support vessel on Captain Cook's third voyage.  It was the smallest of his ships.   Her dimensions were: lower deck 91'5", extreme breadth 27'5", depth of hold 11'5", height between decks 5'7" to 6'1". She cost £2,415 including alterations. Her complement was 70: 3 officers, 55 crew, 11 marines and one civilian.  Lt. Charles Clerke, who had accompanied Cook on the two previous voyages was appointed to command the Discovery.

Captain Cook's crew was a little unusual for it's time.  His voyages were as much for scientific discovery as geographic exploration.  Besides having the usual members such as sailors and navigators, Cook brought along scientists and artists.

Sailors of the time wore loose, short pants and shirts.  They often did not wear shoes while at sea.  Most of the crew slept in hammocks in the mess decks, the same place in which they ate. 

One of Cooks most important discoveries came in the prevention of scurvy at sea. Scurvy could be prevented by providing the crew with fruits and vegetables.  Since fresh fruits and vegetables don't keep for very long, sauerkraut was an important provision because it was pickled and was able to be stored for long periods.

Typical punishment for sailor misconduct was flogging.

The Endeavour is Captain Cook's most famous ship and was the only vessel used on his first voyage around the world.  It was a type of ship called a Bark and was originally called The Earl of Pembroke.  A vessel of 368 tons, her over-all length was 105 feet, the length of her lower deck 97 feet, her greatest breadth 29 feet 3 inches, depth of hold 11 feet and a draught of some 14 feet when fully laden. Cook set sail on July 30, 1768 with a total of 95 persons were on board.  Replacements for lost crew members were obtained at various ports later in the voyage.  Fifty-six of the original 94 reached home 2 years and 11 months later.

Resolution was sailed on the second and third voyages of Captain Cook. She was a larger ship than Endeavor with her dimensions being:-Lower deck length 110 ft 8 inches; Keel 93 ft 6 inches; Maximum beam 35 ft 3½ inches and depth 13 ft l½ inches.  On both voyages, Resolution had a crew of 112.  The Resolution was responsible for some remarkable feats and-was to prove one of the great ships of history. She was the first ship to cross the Antarctic Circle (17 January 1773) and crossed twice more on the voyage.