After 250 years beneath the waves, researchers claim they’ve solved one of maritime history’s greatest mysteries by identifying the final resting place of Captain James Cook’s legendary HMS Endeavour in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island.
Key Takeaways
- The Australian National Maritime Museum has identified a shipwreck (site RI 2394) as Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island
- The ship was the first European vessel to land in eastern Australia and circumnavigate New Zealand during Cook’s 1768-1771 expedition
- After being sold and renamed Lord Sandwich, the British deliberately sank it in 1778 to block French and American forces during the Revolutionary War
- The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project disputes the findings, calling the research premature despite detailed timber analysis showing British origin
- The discovery marks the culmination of 25 years of archaeological investigation into the historically significant vessel
Historical Breakthrough After Decades of Searching
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) has released what it calls definitive evidence that a shipwreck in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, is indeed the remains of Captain James Cook’s famed vessel HMS Endeavour. This discovery caps a 25-year search for the ship that played a pivotal role in world exploration. The vessel, later renamed Lord Sandwich, was intentionally sunk by the British in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War to create a blockade against French and American forces. The ANMM’s extensive research involved underwater investigations in the United States and archival research across multiple countries.
“Researchers have confirmed that the 18th-century British explorer Captain James Cook’s lost ship found its final resting place in Rhode Island’s Newport Harbor, solving a decades-long mystery, according to the Australian National Maritime Museum,” stated the Australian National Maritime Museum
The site, designated as RI 2394, features a linear stone ballast pile, exposed frame ends, four iron cannons, and remnants of the ship’s structure. Researchers confirmed the vessel’s identity by comparing the wreckage with historic plans and noting the precise match of timber placements and unique features. Wood analysis confirmed the timber was of British origin, consistent with Endeavour’s known repairs in 1776. These findings have convinced the museum’s researchers that they’ve solved one of maritime archaeology’s most enduring mysteries.
Scientific Evidence and Archaeological Precision
The Australian team has presented compelling evidence based on precise measurements of the wreckage. The timber dimensions align almost exactly with Endeavour’s known specifications, with differences measured in millimeters rather than inches. This level of precision has convinced many experts that the identification is correct. By 2019, researchers had narrowed their search to site RI 2394 after establishing ten specific criteria, including the absence of American timbers and evidence of hull repairs that matched Endeavour’s documented history.
“The size of all the timber scantlings is almost identical to Endeavour, and I’m talking within millimeters – not inches, but millimeters,” declared Australian National Maritime Museum archaeologist Kieran Hosty. “The stem scarf is identical, absolutely identical,” said Kieran Hosty
The wreck’s location aligns with historical accounts of where the British scuttled several vessels during the Revolutionary War. ANMM archaeologist Dr. Nigel Erskine concluded they had “proved beyond reasonable doubt that Lord Sandwich was one of five transports scuttled during the Battle of Rhode Island in an area immediately north of Goat Island.” While few artifacts have been recovered from the site, this matches expectations for a vessel that would have been stripped of valuables before being deliberately sunk.
Controversy and Competing Claims
Despite the ANMM’s confidence, the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) has disputed the findings, calling the research premature. This disagreement highlights the high stakes and national pride involved when identifying vessels of such historical significance. The Endeavour holds particular importance to Australia, New Zealand, England, the United States, and indigenous peoples throughout the Pacific. The ship’s discovery has reignited interest in Cook’s voyages and their impact on world history.
“Given Endeavour’s historical and cultural significance to Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, England, the United States of America, and First Nations peoples throughout the Pacific Ocean, positive identification of its shipwreck site requires securing the highest possible level of legislative and physical protection,” stated the Australian National Maritime Museum
The vessel’s historical importance cannot be overstated. The Endeavour, a “cat” style vessel designed to avoid grounding in shallow waters, carried Cook on his circumnavigation of the world from 1768 to 1771. During this voyage, Cook mapped New Zealand’s coastline and became the first European to reach Australia’s eastern shore. After completing its famous journey, the ship was sold into private service and renamed Lord Sandwich before its final role as a strategic blockade in the American Revolution.
Preserving Maritime Heritage
With the identification of the Endeavour, attention now turns to preservation efforts. Both Australian and American authorities recognize the need to protect this historically significant site from damage or unauthorized salvage attempts. The wreck lies in relatively shallow water, making it potentially vulnerable without proper safeguards. The Australian National Maritime Museum has called for the “highest possible level of legislative and physical protection” given the vessel’s importance to multiple nations and indigenous peoples.
“This final report is the culmination of 25 years of detailed and meticulous archaeological study on this important vessel,” said museum director Daryl Karp of the document, which he described as the “definitive statement” on the project. “It has involved underwater investigation in the US and extensive research in institutions across the globe,” said Daryl Karp
The discovery of the Endeavour represents a continuation of its historical significance, connecting modern Americans and Australians to a pivotal era of exploration and colonial expansion. As conservation efforts move forward, archaeologists hope to learn more about the vessel’s construction and final days while ensuring this underwater time capsule remains intact for future generations. The ship that once charted unknown territories now offers a new voyage of discovery for historians and archaeologists seeking to understand our shared maritime past.
