Captain Cook and the East India Company

Study note

During the 18th century, Britain greatly expanded its overseas trade and territory. Brave explorers and powerful trading companies played a key part in this growth. Captain James Cook was a famous explorer who charted, or mapped, much of the coast of Australia. It was Cook, not Sir Francis Drake, Admiral Nelson or Sir Walter Raleigh, who is linked with mapping Australia.

Trade was also expanding fast, and the East India Company became extremely powerful. This company came to control large parts of India on Britain's behalf, governing territory as well as trading. It was the East India Company, rather than the Royal Society, the Bank of England or the South Sea Company, that controlled much of India. Remember the pairing: Captain Cook mapped Australia, and the East India Company controlled large parts of India.

Memory tip: Captain Cook mapped Australia; the East India Company controlled much of India.