1728: Born at Marton, Yorkshire, England. -- Russian explorer Vitus Bering makes his first voyage up the Siberian coast and passes through Bering Strait.
1746: Moves south to Whitby, where he works on ships. -- College of New Jersey, later named Princeton University, is founded.
1755-67: Joins Royal Navy as an ordinary seaman and takes part in surveying the east coast of Canada. -- China begins the "10 Great Campaigns"; Europe is embroiled in the Seven Years' War.
1768-71: First voyage around the world in the Endeavor. -- Father Junipero Serra establishes his first missions in California.
1772-75: Second voyage around the world in the ships Resolution and Adventure. -- James Watt pursues a patent on his steam engine.
1776: Third voyage to seek the Northwest Passage in the ships Resolution and Discovery begins.
-- America begins war of independence.
1779: Returning from his exploration of Alaska waters, Cook is killed in Hawaii. The expedition continues for another year, returning to the Bering Sea without him. -- Benjamin Franklin, U.S. minister to France, orders American warships that might encounter Cook not to attack the English vessels but to offer assistance for "the benefit of mankind."
NAMES THAT REMAIN
(Alaska places named by Cook, from a more complete list in "Captain Cook in Alaska and the North Pacific," pp. 258-261.)
Mount Edgecumbe
Mount Fairweather
Cape Suckling
Bligh Island
Montague Island
Anchor Point
Turnagain Arm
Augustine Volcano
Trinity Islands
Bristol Bay
Round Island
Norton Sound
King Island
Cape Prince of Wales
Cape Lisburne
Icy Cape