Made voyages of discovery to australia and new zealand
You're likely thinking of James Cook, a British explorer and navigator who made several voyages of discovery to the Pacific Ocean, including Australia and New Zealand.
Cook's first voyage (1768-1771) was commissioned by King George III to observe the transit of Venus across the sun and to search for new lands. He sailed to the Pacific with two ships, the HMS Endeavour and the HMS Swallow. During this voyage, Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to:
- Chart the eastern coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales.
- Discover and name many islands in the Pacific, including New Zealand.
- Map the coast of New Zealand and interact with the indigenous Māori people.
Cook's second voyage (1772-1775) was also commissioned by King George III, and he sailed to the Pacific with two ships, the HMS Resolution and the HMS Adventure. During this voyage, Cook:
- Searched for the mythical Terra Australis, a supposed southern continent.
- Explored the coast of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
- Made contact with the indigenous people of Hawaii, which he named the "Sandwich Islands" after his patron, the Earl of Sandwich.
Cook's third and final voyage (1776-1779) was also to the Pacific, but it ended in tragedy. He was killed in a confrontation with native Hawaiians on February 14, 1779, while attempting to kidnap the king of Hawaii, Kalani'ōpu'u.
Cook's voyages of discovery had a significant impact on the history of Australia and New Zealand, as they led to the establishment of British colonies and the displacement of indigenous populations.