# James Cook claims eastern Australia for Britain (1770)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1770-james-cook-claims-eastern-australia-for-britain
Categories: main-event

During his Pacific voyage, Cook charted the east coast and claimed it for the crown as New South Wales. Within the broader Georgian Britain period, parliamentary government, industrialization, imperial expansion, war with France and political reform turned Britain into a global commercial and military power. This event is placed at 1770 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The voyage laid groundwork for later British colonization of Australia.

## Why it matters
The voyage laid groundwork for later British colonization of Australia.

Ruler at the time: [George III](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — James Cook claims eastern Australia for Britain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=James+Cook+claims+eastern+Australia+for+Britain&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — James Cook claims eastern Australia for Britain](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=James+Cook+claims+eastern+Australia+for+Britain)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281700%E2%80%931799%29)
- [The National Archives — empire and industry resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)