Captain Cook Society

Upon my pointing a musquet at them they in some measure desisted, but return'd again in an instant seemingly determined to haul the boat up upon the Shore.

James Cook, a August 1774

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by twice visiting the Pacific Tropical Sea, I had not only settled the situation of some old discoveries but made there manu new ones and left, I conceive, very little more to be done.

James Cook, 12 February 1775

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I, however, have made no very great discoveries, yet I have explored more of the Great South Sea than all that have gone before me.

James Cook, 17 August 1771

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Was it not for the pleasure which naturly results to a Man from being the first discoverer, even was it nothing more thn sands and Shoals, this service would be insuportable.

James Cook, 17 August 1770

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Welcome to the Captain Cook Society

The Captain Cook Society has an international membership from countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. In all, we have about 500 members and they receive a free quarterly publication called Cook's Log. Each issue contains articles on many aspects of James Cook's Life and those associated with him.

Membership is open to anyone interested in Captain James Cook, whether professionally or as a hobby. Your interests might be in animals, astronomy, birds, books, botany, coins, discovery, engravings, ethnography, exploration, family history, journals, magazines, medals, navigation, ships, stamps, wills, or zoology. You'll find that Cook's Log covers all these subjects and more!

The answers to many Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found by clicking here.

The Society was formed in 1975 as the Captain Cook Study Unit and changed its name to the Captain Cook Society in 2001. The first officers lived in the USA and Australia. Currently, one officer lives in New Zealand, and the other three live in the UK. There is also an Australian branch with additional officers and an additional journal called Endeavour Lines. Members in Canada, Germany and New Zealand also hold meetings from time to time.

Click here to read news about our future and past meetings, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and UK.

Artwork

Discover beautiful engravings from Cook's voyages.

Biography

These are perhaps the most notable dates in James Cook's life.

Related places

Here you can find places related to James Cook, his life and voyages.

The crew

Who were members of the crew, and what do we know about them?

The ships

Read about the ships that Cook sailed in.

Meetings of the Captain Cook Society

Meetings have been organised by members in several countries over the years, including Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Reports of most of these meetings were published in Cook's Log.
Many of these reports can be found below.

CCS Meeting In Canada, 12 March 2023

A virtual meeting open to every member of the Captain Cook Society

CCS Meeting In Canada 2022

A virtual meeting with a speaker who talked about events surrounding the 1759 battles on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec, Canada.

CCS Meeting In Canada 2021

A virtual meeting with three speakers, who talked about the Kanaka, the Nootka Crisis, and Cook's explorations in the icy polar latitudes

CCS Meeting In New Zealand 2021

A trip to Mereototo / Ship Cove, which was Captain Cook’s favourite Pacific harbour in Totaranui / Queen Charlotte Sound, on the edge of Cook Strait, with access to the Tasman Sea or the Pacific Ocean.

For more Society Meeting reports