Page "George Vancouver" Paragraph 2

Vancouver's first naval service was as a midshipman aboard, on James Cook's second voyage ( 1772 – 1775 ) searching for Terra Australis.

He also accompanied Cook's third voyage ( 1776 – 1778 ), this time aboard Resolutions sister ship, and the first European sighting and exploration of the Hawaiian Islands.

Upon his return to Britain in 1779, Vancouver was commissioned as a lieutenant and posted aboard the sloop surveying coastlines.