Ben Wilson

india and the americas and the west indies and the east indies and africa and all over and they're telling him all these stories and so he's getting this this curiosity and this thirst to see the world and explore One of the things that distinguishes him both when he's a teenager and throughout his life are his curiosity. He's always pestering his master. He's an apprentice, right?

india and the americas and the west indies and the east indies and africa and all over and they're telling him all these stories and so he's getting this this curiosity and this thirst to see the world and explore One of the things that distinguishes him both when he's a teenager and throughout his life are his curiosity. He's always pestering his master. He's an apprentice, right?

So he's got this master. And most apprentices and most kind of teenage sailors

So he's got this master. And most apprentices and most kind of teenage sailors

they're just trying to do their job right but not james cook he's always pestering his master asking him questions you know oh what are you doing over here why are you doing it this way so that he can learn more and uh and really become a master of his craft at sailing so that's that's probably the first defining attribute of james cook is his curiosity he's a very curious person

they're just trying to do their job right but not james cook he's always pestering his master asking him questions you know oh what are you doing over here why are you doing it this way so that he can learn more and uh and really become a master of his craft at sailing so that's that's probably the first defining attribute of james cook is his curiosity he's a very curious person

Over the coming years, he completes his journey to be an able seaman. So that just means he's not an apprentice anymore. He's a fully capable sailor who can work independently, and he starts making journeys on trade ships to mainland Europe. And so at age 27, you know, he's got this curious mind. He's learning so fast that he advances really quickly into 27.

Over the coming years, he completes his journey to be an able seaman. So that just means he's not an apprentice anymore. He's a fully capable sailor who can work independently, and he starts making journeys on trade ships to mainland Europe. And so at age 27, you know, he's got this curious mind. He's learning so fast that he advances really quickly into 27.

He's offered command of his own trade ship. which is a very young age to be commanding your own ship, 27. But like I said, he has this thirst to see the world and explore. And so he takes a major demotion in order to serve in the Royal Navy. Now, remember, Cook does not have an aristocratic background. Far from it. So he's not an officer.

He's offered command of his own trade ship. which is a very young age to be commanding your own ship, 27. But like I said, he has this thirst to see the world and explore. And so he takes a major demotion in order to serve in the Royal Navy. Now, remember, Cook does not have an aristocratic background. Far from it. So he's not an officer.

He's just a seaman, a sailor, and he doesn't have the ability to become an officer. However, sailors are a raucous, rowdy crowd. They're not really known for their intellectual capabilities. And so he is able to quickly distinguish himself as someone who is quick, is smart, is industrious, is hardworking. Like you don't get a lot of those types, frankly, amongst a crowd of sailors.

He's just a seaman, a sailor, and he doesn't have the ability to become an officer. However, sailors are a raucous, rowdy crowd. They're not really known for their intellectual capabilities. And so he is able to quickly distinguish himself as someone who is quick, is smart, is industrious, is hardworking. Like you don't get a lot of those types, frankly, amongst a crowd of sailors.

And so he's quickly able to rise through the ranks in the Royal Navy. The British are at war with the French at this time, and so James Cook sees some combat against a few French ships, engagements which his ship wins, and in which Cook distinguishes himself for his calm and efficient command. Again, he's not an officer, but he's sort of a NCO, a non-commissioned officer.

And so he's quickly able to rise through the ranks in the Royal Navy. The British are at war with the French at this time, and so James Cook sees some combat against a few French ships, engagements which his ship wins, and in which Cook distinguishes himself for his calm and efficient command. Again, he's not an officer, but he's sort of a NCO, a non-commissioned officer.

He does have command over other sailors, but he does not have any command over any other officers. And so with this kind of command over other sailors, he distinguishes himself as someone who is... cool under pressure and carries things out very efficiently, competently, like does the job right. So the, you know, he's patrolling in the Atlantic, going down to France, fighting French ships.

He does have command over other sailors, but he does not have any command over any other officers. And so with this kind of command over other sailors, he distinguishes himself as someone who is... cool under pressure and carries things out very efficiently, competently, like does the job right. So the, you know, he's patrolling in the Atlantic, going down to France, fighting French ships.

He eventually gets sent to Canada where the British are invading the French province of Quebec. And he serves a capable but secondary role in the invasion, helping to plan some landings against the French fort there. The British take the fort and then they winter there. And so there's not much to do during the winter. No one really wants to fight.

He eventually gets sent to Canada where the British are invading the French province of Quebec. And he serves a capable but secondary role in the invasion, helping to plan some landings against the French fort there. The British take the fort and then they winter there. And so there's not much to do during the winter. No one really wants to fight.

So all these sailors are just living on their ships, coming, coming ashore sometimes. Most of the sailors, frankly, are drinking to pass the winter and visiting prostitutes on land. But James Cook is finding more beneficial uses for his time.

So all these sailors are just living on their ships, coming, coming ashore sometimes. Most of the sailors, frankly, are drinking to pass the winter and visiting prostitutes on land. But James Cook is finding more beneficial uses for his time.