Exploration

Memorial: M4822

Statue in West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire commemorating Captain James Cook RN d. 1799

Location

West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England

Transcript

[Front]'CAPTAIN / JAMES COOK R.N./1728-1779' [motto] 'CIRCA ORBEM', 'NIL INTENTUM RELIQUE' [back] 'RESOLUTION'[side] 'FOR / THE LASTING MEMORY OF A GREAT YORKSHIRE / SEAMAN THIS BRONZE / HAS BEEN CAST, AND IS / LEFT IN THE KEEPING OF / WHITBY; THE BIRTH / PLACE OF THOSE GOOD / SHIPS THAT BORE HIM / AND HIS ENTERPRISES / BROUGHT HIM TO GLORY, / AND LEFT HIM AT REST' [on plinth] 'THIS PLAQUE WAS PRESENTED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA / TO COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF / CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, R.N., R.R.S. / AND WAS UNVEILED BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CANANDA / THE HONOURABLE PAUL MARTIN P.C.C.Q.C. / OCTOBER 1978. / CETTE DON DU PEUPLE CANADIEN / EN COMMEMORATION DU 250EME ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA NAISSANCE DU/CAPITAINE JAMES COOK. R.N., F.R.S./FUT INAUGUREE PAR LE HAUT-COMMISSAIRE DU CANADA / L'HONORABLE PAUL MARTIN. C.P. C.C.C.R. / OCTOBRE 1978' [on plinth] 'THIS PLAQUE IS TO COMMEMORATE THE MEN WHO BUILT / THE WHITBY SHIPS / ENDEAVOUR, RESOLUTION, ADVENTURE, DISCOVERY / USED BY/CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, R.N., F.R.S. / AND ALSO THE MEN WHO SAILED WITH HIM / ON THE GREATEST VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION OF ALL TIME / 1768-1771, 1772-1775, 1776-1778 / UNVEILED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE / HIGH COMMISSIONERS OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND / ON THE 26 AUG. 1968 / THE BICENTENARY OF HIS FIRST VOYAGE / TO STRIVE, TO SEEK, TO FIND AND NOT THE YEILD.', 'THIS PLAQUE / WAS PRESENTED BY THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND / IN TRIBUTE TO THE GREAT NAVIGATOR / CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, R.N., F.R.S. / AND THE MEN WHO SAILED WITH HIM / ON HIS VOAYGES OF DISCOVERY / ”IN EVERY SITUATION HE STOOD UNRIVALED AND ALONE, / ON HIM ALL EYES WERE TURNED” / UNVEILED BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR NEW ZEALAND / THE HONOURABLE W.L. YOUNG / 2ND APRIL 1984' [plinth] 'THIS PLAQUE / WAS PRESENTED BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA / TO THE WHITBY URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL / TO COMMEMORATE THE BI-CENTENARY OF THE DISCOVERY / OF THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA BY / LIEUTENANT JAMES COOK, R.N. / FROM THIS DISCOVERY EMERGED A NATION. / 20TH APRIL – 22ND AUGUST 1770. / UNVEILED BY / HIS EXCELLANCY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR AUSTRALIA. / THE HON. SIR ALEXANDER DOWNER, K.B.E./20TH APRIL 1970'

Details

Description: Full-length in uniform, the plinth is carved with Cook's coat of arms.


Type: Statue
Materials: Bronze
Date Erected: 1912
Artists: John Tweed

People

Cook, James
Age: 51
Date of Death: 14/2/1779
Cause of Death: Killed by indigenous people
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Presented by the Honourable Gervase Becket.
Bibliography: J.D. Bennett 'Discovering Statues: Central and Northern England' (Tring, 1968).
Recorder: B. Tomlinson
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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