Captain James Cook JAMES COOK was born in a mud hut at Marton,
in the north riding of Yorkshire, 27th October 1728. His father
was an agricultural servant, who, with his wife, bore a most
unexceptionable character for honesty and industry. The village
school-mistress taught the boy to read; but at eight years of
age his father, through his good conduct, was appointed to be
bailiff of a farm near Great Ayton, belonging to Thomas
Skottowe, Esq., who at his own expense put James to a day-school
in that town, where he was taught writing and the first rules in
arithmetic. The predilection of the lad inclined him for the
sea; but as this stood contrary to the wishes of his parents, he
was soon after his twelfth year apprenticed to William
Sanderson, a general dealer in haberdashery, grocery, hardware,
etc., at Staith, upon the coast, about ten miles north of
Whitby. The youth's mind, however, continued more occupied upon
maritime affairs than anything else, and though he faithfully
discharged his duty to his master