History Daily: Captain Cook Claims Australia

Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Lindsay Graham
Podcast: History Daily (Airship | Noiser | Wondery)

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Lindsay Graham chronicles the pivotal journey of Captain James Cook as he explores, charts, and ultimately claims the eastern coast of Australia for the British Crown on August 22, 1770. The episode traces Cook’s progression from a young sailor through his famed Pacific voyages, his scientific and military achievements, and the consequential claiming of land that would reshape Australian—and world—history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cook’s Rise in the Royal Navy

• Early Naval Career (00:00–03:55)

  • The episode opens in 1755, depicting 27-year-old James Cook’s service aboard HMS Eagle as it pursues a French warship, highlighting his quick thinking and leadership in a dangerous naval engagement.
  • Cook’s competence earns him promotions and sets the stage for his storied naval career:
    • “It’s the next step in what will become an illustrious career in the Royal Navy, one that will culminate with Cook leading a voyage of discovery to the other side of the world and raising the British flag over an entire continent on August 22, 1770.” (03:23, Lindsay Graham)

• Skill in Surveying & Cartography (05:33–09:57)

  • By 1758, Cook is recognized for his cartography skills while mapping the St. Lawrence River for the British fleet, contributing to the successful attack on Quebec and solidifying his value to the navy.
  • For nearly a decade, he meticulously charts the rugged coastlines of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
  • Cook’s scientific pursuits are highlighted when he records a solar eclipse, impressing British scientists with his accuracy.

The Pacific Expedition & Scientific Mission

• The Great Pacific Journey (09:57–11:30)

  • In 1768, Cook is chosen to lead an expedition to the Pacific, tasked with observing the rare transit of Venus—crucial for astronomical research and measuring Earth’s distance from the Sun.
  • The expedition forges an early link between exploration, imperial ambition, and emerging scientific inquiry.

• Turning to Terra Australis (11:37–13:05)

  • After the successful transit observation in Tahiti, Cook opens secret orders: he is to search for the mythical “Terra Australis”—a hypothesized vast southern continent.
  • The search takes Cook and the crew to New Zealand, but after circumnavigation, he realizes it is not the great southern landmass sought by Europe.

• Discovery of New South Wales (13:05–14:18)

  • Sailing westward, Cook’s ship finally sights the east coast of Australia in 1770—a land unknown to Europeans.
  • Cook names this region “New South Wales,” comparing its landscape to parts of England.

First Encounters and Challenges

• Initial Contact with Aboriginal Peoples (14:18–15:48)

  • Cook’s landing is met with resistance from local Aboriginal inhabitants; warning shots and a brief violent incident make clear that the land is neither empty nor welcoming.
  • “Cook fires a warning shot over their heads, but they respond with a barrage of stones and darts. Only when one of the Aboriginal men is clipped by a shot from Cook’s musket do they retreat into the forest beyond the beach.” (14:44, Lindsay Graham)

• Botanical Discoveries and the Great Barrier Reef (15:48–17:24)

  • The crew marvels at the unique wildlife and flora, leading Cook to name their initial landing place “Botany Bay.”
  • The journey nearly ends in disaster when the Endeavour runs aground on the Great Barrier Reef, forcing the crew to dump vital supplies and cannons to save the ship.
  • After repairs (during which Cook encounters his first kangaroo), the voyage continues northward.

The Claiming of Australia

• The Ceremony on Possession Island (17:24–18:40)
  • On August 22, 1770, Cook conducts a brief but momentous ceremony on what he names “Possession Island,” raising the British flag and claiming the east coast of Australia for King George III.
  • “Cook attaches the British flag to a pole that’s been dug into the grassy soil. He says a few words, claiming the island and its surroundings on behalf of King George III.” (17:47, Lindsay Graham)

Legacy and Lasting Consequences

• Return to Britain and Aftermath (18:40–19:25)

  • Cook returns to England after nearly a year; his detailed charts enable further exploration and colonization.
  • His maps of the Great Barrier Reef are so accurate they’re still in use over a century later.
  • “But British colonial expansion in Australia will come at a steep cost to the communities who already live there. The Aboriginal inhabitants will face violence and assault on their culture as the British newcomers seize more and more of their land.” (19:10, Lindsay Graham)

• Cook’s Fate (19:25–19:55)

  • Cook sails on further Pacific expeditions, ultimately dying in Hawaii in 1779.
  • Despite his death, Cook is remembered in Britain as a pioneering explorer—though his actions remain inseparable from the darker legacies of colonial expansion.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Cook’s Role in Australian History:

  • “A reputation first sealed when he claimed the coast of Australia for the British Crown on August 22, 1770.” (19:53, Lindsay Graham)

• On Indigenous Encounters:

  • “When the Endeavour drops anchor in a bay, Cook can see people on the beach. Still, he decides to go ashore. And he takes his weapons with him.” (14:24, Lindsay Graham)

• On the Striking New Land:

  • “The kangaroo is just one of the wonders they discover in this land.” (16:05, Lindsay Graham)

Episode Timeline

| Timestamp | Segment / Event | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | James Cook’s early naval career and first major victory | | 03:55 | British siege of Louisbourg; Cook’s mapping skills | | 09:57 | Cook’s scientific achievements and eclipse observation | | 11:30 | Cook chosen for Pacific expedition (transit of Venus) | | 11:37 | Receives secret Admiralty orders—search for Terra Australis | | 13:05 | Arrival and circumnavigation of New Zealand | | 14:18 | First European landing on Australia; Aboriginal resistance| | 15:48 | Mapping Australia, Botany Bay, Great Barrier Reef mishap | | 17:24 | August 22, 1770: Claiming Possession Island for Britain | | 18:40 | Return to Britain; maps enable colonization | | 19:25 | Cook’s fate and legacy |

Tone & Language

The episode maintains Lindsay Graham’s signature calmly narrative, immersing listeners in historical detail while highlighting both adventure and consequences. The tone combines admiration for Cook’s skill and determination with acknowledgment of the colonial violence and displacement that his voyages wrought upon Indigenous populations.

Summary

This episode delivers a gripping, nuanced account of Captain James Cook’s landmark expedition, culminating in the British claim to Australia. It captures not just the heroism and hardship of eighteenth-century exploration, but also the irrevocable impact of European expansion on Indigenous peoples—a history both triumphant and tragic. Through vivid storytelling and conscientious reflection, History Daily brings to life an event that would echo through centuries.