James Cook was a British explorer born in 1728 who made three voyages of exploration and discovery in the Pacific Ocean. He mapped much of the region, made accurate navigational charts, and was the first European to visit many islands and lands, including becoming the first to circumnavigate and map Antarctica. Cook commanded three ships, the Endeavour, Resolution, and Adventure, and his explorations greatly expanded European knowledge of the Pacific and contributed to navigational accuracy. He died in 1779 after being stabbed by Hawaiians during his third voyage.