Adrienne, the passport that we have today was in use in the 18th century. Cook had no need for a passport as he was in command of a naval vessel, his written commission was all that he heeded to demonstrate his authority. The passports referred to in the 2003 article relate to documents issued by the Governments of France and the USA. These documents were sent to their naval vessels in 1779, at a time when the American War of Independence was still rumbling on. The documents instructed the commanders of vessels not to attack Captain Cook's ship as he was on a scientific mission which would be of benefit to all mankind. Over time these documents have been referred to as Cook's passports.
I am interested to find out more about the type of passport Cook would carry on his voyages, and its appearance
Emily, Thanks for your request. I have emailed you a copy of the article. Regards,Ian Boreham, Webmaster
I would like to see Cook's passports for my research
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