the ship was launched in 1764 as the coal carrying ship "earl of pembroke". she was bought by the navy in 1768 for a scientific mission to the pacific ocean. she was also to search for the unknown southern land, "terra australis incognita". renamed as "his majesty's bark the endeavour", she left plymouth in august 1768. after sailing around cape horn she reached tahiti to see the 1769 transit of venus across the sun. she then set sail into the largely uncharted ocean to the south, stopping at the pacific islands of huahine, borabora, and raiatea which cook claimed for great britain. in september 1769, she anchored off new zealand, the first european vessel to reach the islands since abel tasman's "heemskerck" 127 years earlier. in april 1770, "endeavour" became the first ship to reach the east coast of australia, when cook went ashore at what is now known as botany bay.