1774day.year
New Caledonia is first sighted by Europeans, during the second voyage of Captain James Cook.
During his second Pacific voyage in 1774, Captain James Cook became the first European to sight the island of New Caledonia.
During his second Pacific voyage on September 4, 1774, Captain James Cook became the first European to sight the island now known as New Caledonia. He named it Caledonia for its resemblance to the Scottish Highlands. Cook’s charts provided Europe with the first detailed mapping of the island and nearby archipelagos. This encounter opened the way for later European exploration and eventual colonial interest in the South Pacific. The indigenous Kanak people’s culture and environment would soon face profound changes.
1774
New Caledonia
James Cook