James Cook

Mapping the unknown reaches of the Pacific with scientific rigor, James Cook charted the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii with unprecedented accuracy. He approached exploration as a cartographer and observer, bringing artists and botanists along to document the flora and fauna of the "New World." His three voyages dispelled long-held myths about a vast southern continent and pushed the boundaries of the British maritime empire. He famously enforced strict dietary regimes on his crew to successfully eliminate scurvy, a revolutionary feat for his time. His charts were so precise they remained in use well into the 20th century.