James Cook
(1728-1779), CircumnavigatorMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 15 portraits
The son of a Yorkshire labourer, Captain Cook honed his navigation skills on small trading boats sailing from Whitby. Described as 'a good mathematician and very expert in his business', he was chosen to command the Royal Navy ship the Endeavour in 1768, despite being a lower-ranking officer. This was the first of three important voyages of discovery to the Pacific - charting land, sea and stars. He is most famous for charting the coasts of New Zealand, the Pacific coast of North America and the east coast of Australia, where he was the first British captain to land. On his third voyage to the Pacific, from 1776 to 1779, he was killed in an attack by Hawaiian natives who had previously worshipped him as a god.
Unknown man, formerly known as James Cook
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, circa 1765
NPG 1414
by Lucien Le Vieux
marble bust, 1790
NPG 984
by James Basire, after William Hodges
line engraving, 1777
NPG D33013
by James Basire, published by William Strahan, and published by Thomas Cadell the Elder, after William Hodges
line engraving, published 1 February 1777
NPG D20302
by Thornton, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1784
NPG D34085
by John Keyse Sherwin, after Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
line engraving, published 1 August 1784
NPG D2201
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after John Webber
stipple engraving, published 1784 (1776)
NPG D7854
by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, published by Robert Wilkinson, after Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
line engraving, published 1 August 1784
NPG D14061
by and published by Francesco Bartolozzi, after John Webber
line engraving, published 1 January 1784
NPG D14634
by Thornton, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1785
NPG D8408
by James Barry
etching, published 1792 (1 May 1791)
NPG D14598
by François Pigeot, after Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D8407
by and published by John Keyse Sherwin, published by Robert Wilkinson, after Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
line engraving, published 1 August 1784
NPG D19796
cast by Martin Cooper, after Lucien Le Vieux
marble bust, 2005 (1790)
NPG D23145
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