After 250 years beneath the waves, Captain James Cook’s legendary ship HMS Endeavour has been conclusively identified in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, though rival archaeological teams are locked in a bitter dispute over the validity of the claim.
Key Takeaways
- Researchers from the Australian National Maritime Museum have identified the final resting place of Captain James Cook’s HMS Endeavour in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island
- The historic vessel was sold, renamed Lord Sandwich, and deliberately sunk by the British in 1778 to block French and American forces
- The ship’s discovery represents a significant historical find, as the Endeavour was the first European vessel to reach eastern Australia and circumnavigate New Zealand
- The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project disputes the identification, creating scholarly controversy over the announcement
- The wreck site matches the original Endeavour’s specifications “within millimeters,” according to researchers who spent 25 years investigating the vessel
Historic Discovery After Decades of Searching
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) has announced the definitive identification of Captain James Cook’s HMS Endeavour, ending a mystery that has puzzled maritime archaeologists for decades. The wreckage, designated as site RI 2394, lies in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, where it was deliberately sunk in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The Endeavour, perhaps the most significant vessel in Australia’s colonial history, achieved fame under Captain Cook’s command from 1768 to 1771 when it became the first European ship to reach eastern Australia’s coast and complete a circumnavigation of New Zealand.
“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 search for the Endeavour has been painstaking, involving 25 years of meticulous archaeological investigation by experts from multiple nations. ANMM director Daryl Karp emphasized the significance of the discovery, calling their final report the “definitive statement” on this historically important vessel. According to the museum, the ship was sold by the British Royal Navy after Cook’s voyages, renamed Lord Sandwich, and later intentionally sunk along with four other vessels during the Battle of Rhode Island to prevent French and American forces from entering the harbor.
Compelling Evidence and Archaeological Controversy
The identification of the Endeavour has not come without controversy, as the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) has disputed the ANMM’s claims, calling them premature. However, Australian researchers stand firmly behind their conclusion, pointing to overwhelming physical evidence. The archaeological team documented striking similarities between the wreckage and the Endeavour’s original specifications, with measurements matching “within millimeters” according to ANMM archaeologist Kieran Hosty. This precision, along with the ship’s unique construction features, has convinced the Australian team of the identification’s accuracy.
“The size of all the timber scantlings are 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 site features conclusive physical evidence supporting the identification, including a linear stone ballast pile characteristic of 18th-century British vessels, exposed frame ends matching the Endeavour’s design, and four iron cannons. Wood analysis confirmed the timbers were British in origin, consistent with repairs made to the Endeavour in 1776. By 2019, researchers had narrowed down their search and determined that RI 2394 was the most likely candidate based on ten specific criteria, including the absence of American timbers and evidence of hull repairs known to have been made to the Endeavour.
Historical Significance and Future Preservation
The Endeavour’s significance extends far beyond its physical remains. As the vessel that carried Captain Cook on his first circumnavigation of the world, it played a pivotal role in European exploration and colonization efforts in the Pacific. The ship’s unique “cat” style design, featuring a flat bottom, allowed it to navigate shallow waters without grounding – a crucial advantage during Cook’s exploration of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This revolutionary design helped Cook chart vast stretches of previously unmapped coastline along New Zealand and Australia, forever changing the course of history for these regions.
“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, identification of its shipwreck site requires securing the highest possible level of legislative and physical protection,” stated the Australian National Maritime Museum
The ANMM has emphasized the need for strong protective measures for the wreck site, highlighting its cultural importance to multiple nations and indigenous peoples throughout the Pacific. After being deliberately scuttled by the British, the ship lay forgotten for nearly two and a half centuries. Dr. Nigel Erskine of the ANMM has stated they’ve “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.” Despite the controversy surrounding its identification, the discovery represents a remarkable connection to one of history’s most significant voyages of exploration and a tangible link to America’s Revolutionary War.
