Australia: New South Wales – Captain Cook Discovers Botany Bay
On this day in 1770, Captain James Cook and the HMS Endeavour arrived at Botany Bay (named Stingray Bay at first, because of the large number of stingrays spotted), which Cook later named Botany Bay because of the abundance of plants found and collected there by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Daniel Solander, botanists on the voyage.
For more visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botany_Bay
The RMS Carpathia Arrives in New York with the RMS Titanic Survivors
On this day in 1912, the Carpathia arrived in New York City with the 705 people who survived the sinking of the Titanic.
Australia Day
This day is the day that Australians celebrate as Australia Day.
On this day in 1788, the First Fleet had arrived and the first landing was made inside Port Jackson (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) by the pioneering first settlers from Britain.
For more on Australia Day visit:
http://www.australiaday.org.au/
Captain James Cook: First European to Discover the Hawaiian Islands
On his third voyage of discovery, Captain James Cook commanding the HMS Resolution (accompanied by the HMS Discovery), became the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands (which he called the ‘Sandwich Islands’). This occurred on the 18th January 1778.
On the very same day, the First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay (Australia) – an area of ‘New Holland‘ discovered by James Cook during his first voyage of discovery.
First Fleet Leaves England for Australia
On this day in 1787, 11 ships known as the First Fleet left England for Australia. On board were 1487 people, including 778 convicts. Their destination was Botany Bay in what was then known as New Holland. The expedition was under the leadership of Captain Arthur Phillip, soon to be Governor Phillip and later Admiral Phillip. The First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay from the 18th January 1788.
An account of the journey can be found at the Internet Archive. I am currently working on a copy of this work for the Tracing our History website.
A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, by Watkin Tench
http://www.archive.org/details/acompleteaccount03534gut
History for Today 