3/04/1768
Today I received wonderful news! I shall be commanding the ship the Endeavour on trek to the Pacific. Our goal is to reach Tahiti and record the passing of Venus over the sun. This mission is very important seeing, as the next time this shall happen no astronomer from this time will be alive. This journey has a second goal to it also. The King would like us to try to befriend the Natives and learn about their lifestyle. After the passing of Venus, we are supposed to explore the waters for continents or large land areas that are not yet inhabited. On this trip many people will accompany me and aiding me in completing my task, there will be will be more details later of the scientists, botanists, astronomers, accompanying me. Being allowed to command the ship on such an important mission is a huge honor. Only a few short years ago I was at the bottom of the ranks in the navy, a poor orphaned boy. Now I have moved through the ranks, apparently presenting some sort of natural talent, I have passed all of my early friends in rank and skill. I shall try to use my skills in astronomy and cartography on this journey, to prove that I was the right choice to be in command.
7/21/1771
I returned from journey upon the Endeavour a week ago. I found it a very successful trip! I was promoted to the status of Captain because of this journey! Meeting the people of Tahiti was a very interesting experience. The natives had a unique way of living and I never felt sure as to how our relations were. Some days they would storm on to our ship, stealing and taking whatever they pleased, then some mornings they would provide us with plenty of coconuts and other such items. The Venus transit was a bit of a letdown. It was nothing magnificent to see and I am afraid my readings varied greatly from a sir Joseph Banks who also measured the transit. All’s well I assume, for I did have another important discovery. My shipmates and I landed upon this large island, by the name of New Zealand. We mapped out the island, explored the strange land, and brought back a large amount of information on it. We also explored the coast of a different very large land mass. I am not sure of the name of this place yet, but I am sure more information will come in the future.
9/23/1771
A little over a month has passed since I returned from life upon the Endeavour, just as I was becoming accustomed to walking on land again I was called to the Royal Society. Here they informed they wanted to be sure there was no continent in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, my crew and I shall board a ship named the Resolution and journey with another vessel, the Adventure, and explore the southern half of the globe in search of this mass.
8/17/1774
Right now, I am aboard my vessel the Resolution, I just returned from a meeting with the captain of the Adventure. We have decided to part our ways. The Adventure wishes to sail back to England since we have passed over the Antarctic Circle and sailed through the South pacific, my crew still has exploring to do however. We shall cross the Antarctic Circle once again and continue to explore the South Pacific for hopes that we shall find an uncharted island.
10/11/1775
I have returned home from journey upon the Resolution, and my! What has changed, I feel as though the colonists and the king have completely changed! When I left on this voyage, there was some murmur from Benjamin Franklin of issues in the Colonies but I thought it was a slight rebellion that would die down in several months. This large war is insanity! I hope that by the time I return home from my next voyage upon the Resolution all of this mess shall be cleared up. On my next voyage, I am supposed to search the Antarctic Circle and explore the continent named Antarctica. I hope this journey proves as insightful as the last. We discovered there is no southern landmass the King was looking for, merely lots of inhabited small islands and Antarctica.