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 Repairing the Endeavour. © NMM |
The Endeavour was converted and fitted out at Deptford Dockyard in 1768. The Admiralty had ship builders plans of the vessel drawn up during her refit, which are still in existence today.
A lot of work had to be carried out on the vessel to make her suitable for the journey. The hull of the collier was sheathed and caulked to protect her from the tropical marine worms. As one hundred and seven people had to be accommodated for the long voyage, a third deck had to be squeezed into the ship, to house extra cabins, storerooms and the galley.
From Deptford, HM Bark Endeavour sailed down the Thames to Galleons Reach to take on her compliment of guns, before she set sail for Plymouth to provision and take on crew. Endeavour set sail from Plymouth on the 25 August 1768 to begin her long voyage.
| 16 Feb 1768 |
George III is petitioned by the Royal Society to finance an astronomers’ voyage to the Pacific |
| 29 Mar 1768 |
The 'Earl of Pembroke' was purchased for £2307 5s. 6d. The ship is renamed HM Bark 'Endeavour' |
| 25 Aug 1768 |
'Endeavour' leaves Plymouth |
| 12-18 Sept 1768 |
'Endeavour' anchors in Madeira |
| 13 Nov 1768 |
'Endeavour' anchors in Rio de Janeiro to take on provisions |
| 25 Jan 1769 |
'Endeavour' rounds Cape Horn |
| 13 Apr 1769 |
'Endeavour' reaches Tahiti |
| 3 Jun 1769 |
The transit of Venus is observed and recorded |
| 13 Jul 1769 |
'Endeavour' sets sail to explore the Society Islands |
| 7 Oct 1769 |
'Endeavour' makes landfall on the east coast of North Island, New Zealand |
| 4 Nov 1769 |
The transit of Mercury is observed and recorded |
| 14 Dec 1769 |
'Endeavour' rounds the North Cape |
| 31 Mar 1770 |
'Endeavour' leaves New Zealand and sets sail for ‘Van Diemans Land', Tasmania |
| 29 April 1770 |
'Endeavour' anchors at Botany Bay |
| 10 Jun 1770 |
'Endeavour' strikes the Great Barrier Reef during the night |
| 18 Jun - 4 Aug 1770 |
'Endeavour' is beached in Endeavour River in order to repairs her hull |
| Sept 1770 |
'Endeavour' anchors off Timor |
| 10 Oct 1770 |
'Endeavour' anchors at Batavia. Many of the crew become sick with malaria and die |
| 26 Dec 1770 |
'Endeavour' leaves Batavia with many of the crew still sick |
| 15 Mar 1771 |
'Endeavour' anchors in Table Bay, Capetown |
| 4 May 1771 |
'Endeavour' leaves St Helena for the voyage home |
| 13 Jul 1771 |
'Endeavour' anchors in the Downs and reaches the end of her expedition |
