to Mr Thomas Skottowe, of Airy-holme, near
Ayton, in Yorkshire, by whom young James, when old enough, was sent to a
commercial school, where he learned writing and the rules of arithmetic.
At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to Mr William Sanderson, a
grocer and haberdasher, at the fishing town of Straiths, near Whitby.
He remained with his master until he was about eighteen years of age,
when, having a strong desire to go to sea, he obtained a release from
his engagement, and having apprenticed himself to Messrs. Walker and
Company, shipowners, of Whitby, he embarked on board one of their
vessels--the _Truelove_, collier--trading between Newcastle and London.
After having made several voyages, from his thorough knowledge of
seamanship, he was raised to the rank of mate on board the _Friendship_.

In her he remained until the breaking out of war between England and
France in 1756, when, considering the risk he ran of being pressed, he
volunteered as an able seaman on board the _Eagle_, of sixty guns,
commanded by Captain Harmer, who was succeeded by Captain Palliser,
afterwards Sir Hugh Palliser, Cook's warm and constant patron. He had
by this time many friends on shore, and his captain, who having remarked
his intelligence and assiduity, had already made him a quartermaster,
received a letter recommending him to his notice, and in a short time
obtained for him a warrant as master. In 1759 Cook was accordingly made
master of the _Grampus_, but the former master returning, he was
appointed to the same rank on board the _Garland_. He was again doomed
to disappointment, as she had sailed, but quickly received an order
appointing him to the _Mercury_, which immediately sailed for North
America, to join the fleet under Sir Charles Saunders, which, in
conjunction with General Wolfe's force, was engaged in the siege of
Quebec. He was here employed, by the recommendation of Captain
Palliser, who now commanded the _Shrewsbury_, in taking soundings in the
Saint Lawrence opposite Quebec. While thus occupied he had a narrow
escape of being captured by the French. After this he had many
opportunities of displaying his talents, while he applied himself
diligently to the study of astronomy and other branches of nautical
science. While serving on board the _Northumberland_, he was engaged in
the capture of Newfoundland, and was afterwards employed, at different
periods, in surveying its coast. At the end of 1762, returning