Captain James Cook: First European Below the Antarctic Circle
On his second voyage of discovery, Captain James Cook (with his crew) became the first European to cross below the Antarctic Circle. Cook was in command of the HMS Resolution, which was accompanied by the HMS Adventure at the time of the crossing.
During this second voyage, Cook never reached the Antarctic mainland. The purpose of this voyage was to find the supposed great southern land mass known as the Terra Australis. He had already discovered what was to become known as Australia during his first voyage, but a greater land mass was thought to lie further to the south.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: 1773, Antarctic Circle, Antarctica, Australia, below, Captain, discovered, discovery, European, first, great, HMS Adventure, HMS Resolution, James Cook, January 17, land, mainland, mass, New Holland, purpose, second, south, southern, Terra Australis, voyage | posted in Antarctic Circle, Antarctica, Australia, HMS Adventure, HMS Resolution, James Cook, Today in History
Giovanni da Verrazzano: Discovery of New York Bay
On this day in 1524, navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, discovered New York Bay. Verrazzano was employed by the French king, Francis I, to find a sea route to the Pacific Ocean in order to reach China. After a failed first expedition, Verrazzano in the ‘La Dauphine,’ left France on the 17th January 1524 for the North American mainland. Once in American waters he explored the east coast of North America, including the area from North Carolina to New York. During his journey he came into contact with native American Indians and entered the Hudson River. The area explored by Verrazano was named ‘New France.’
Verrazzano is thought to have been born in 1485, south of Florence in Italy, though more recent research would suggest he was born in Lyon, France. Verrazzano died during a third trip to America, when he was killed and eaten by native Carib Indians on the island of Guadeloupe in 1528.
As with any other day, there was plenty more that happened on this day in history. Among the more important events on this day in the past were:
-
In 1492, Christopher Columbus signed a contract with Spain to find the Indies.
-
In 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.
-
In 1534, Sir Thomas Moore was confined in the Tower of London.
-
In 1970, Apollo 13 sucessfully returned to earth.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: 1485, 1492, 1521, 1524, 1528, 1534, 1970, American, Apollo 13, April 17, area, born, Carib, China, Christopher Columbus, coast, confined, contact, contract, died, discovered, discovery, earth, east, eaten, employed, entered, events, excommunicated, expedition, explored, failed, find, first, Florence, France, Francis I, French, Giovanni da Verrazzano, Guadeloupe, happened, history, Hudson River, important, Indians, Indies, island, Italy, journey, killed, king, La Dauphine, Lyon, mainland, Martin Luther, named, native, navigator, New France, New York, New York Bay, North America, North American, North Carolina, Pacific Ocean, past, plenty, reach, recent, research, returned, Roman Catholic Church, route, sea, signed, Sir, south, Spain, successfully, suggest, third, Thomas Moore, today, Tower of London, trip, waters | posted in China, Christopher Columbus, England, Exploration, France, Francis I, Giovanni da Verrazzano, Italy, New York, North America, North Carolina, Pacific Ocean, Roman Catholic Church, Thomas Moore, Today in History, Tower of London, USA
On his second voyage of discovery, Captain James Cook (with his crew) became the first European to cross below the Antarctic Circle. Cook was in command of the HMS Resolution, which was accompanied by the HMS Adventure at the time of the crossing.
History for Today 