James Cook. Portrait of British explorer James Cook (1728-79). After joining the Royal Navy, Cook made his first major voyage from 1768-71. During this trip he made the first accurate maps of New Zealand's coastline and the first European landing in east Australia in 1770. During 1772-75 he tried to find a legendary southern continent, becoming the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle. However, further travel south was soon halted by pack ice. In his third voyage (1776-79) he tried to find the Northwest passage, a navigable route around Canada. During this voyage he discovered the Hawaiian islands but was later killed by the natives there. Artwork from an 1833/37 book.