James Cook. Historical portrait of the British explorer James Cook (1728-1779). After joining the Royal Navy, Cook undertook his first major voyage from 1768-71, accurately mapping New Zealand's coastline and, in 1770, making the first European landing in east Australia. During 1772-75 he searched for the legendary southern continent, crossing the Antarctic Circle for the first time. Further travel south was halted by sea ice. In his third voyage from 1776-79, more sea ice would prevent him from finding the Northwest passage around Canada. He turned back to the Hawaiian islands that he had just charted, where he was killed in a dispute with a group of islanders.