Captain Cook’s Coat Of Arms

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 8

Captain Cook’s Coat Of Arms

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ROGER HAYMAN)

It seems a pity in this year of Captain Cook’s bicentenary that no mention has been made of one of the most eloquent records of his explorations: his coat of arms. The arms granted to Captain Cook record his discoveries and serve as a unique memorial to his skills. Both historically and heraldically Captain Cook’s coat of arms is remarkable.

In the first place the achievement, which is the heraldic term for the complete heraldic device comprising shield, helmet, crest, mantling and motto (commonly called a coat of arms), was granted some six years after Cook’s death. At the date of granting, September 3, 1785, only Cook’s wife and two of their six children were alive. The arms were in fact a posthumous grant by King George 111 to Captain Cook because of his service to the Crown. As such the achievement forms a uniqup memorial to Captain Cook and his discoveries.

The arms are historically interesting because they contain some important details. The blazon of the arms (the description of the arms in technical language) is as follows: Azure, between the two Polar Stars Or, a Sphere on the plane of the Meridian, North Pole elevated, circles of latitude for every ten degrees and of longitude for every fifteen, showing the Pacific Ocean between sixty and two-hundred-and-forty West, bounded on one side by America and on the other by Asia and New Holland in memory of discoveries made by him in that ocean so very far beyond all former navigators, His track thereon marked with red lines. Pacific Voyages As can be seen from the illustration this means that Cook’s arms consist of a blue shield on which there is a globe showing the Pacific Ocean with Cook’s track marked in red lines. There are two gold stars, representing the Polar Stars, ore*

above and the other below the globe. The symbolism of the globe showing Cook’s routes is obvious. The blazon states that the design was granted “in memory of the discoveries made by him In that ocean so very far beyond all former navigators." The Polar Stars refer to Cook’s course around the world between the Poles. It is interesting to note that another circumnavigator, Sir Francis Drake, also bore two similar stars on his coat of arms—no doubt for the same reason The blazon goes on to describe the crest which is the part of the heraldic achievement that is worn on top of the helmet: And for Crest, on a Wreath of the Colours, is an Arm imbowed, vested in the uniform of a Captain of the Royal Navy. In the hand is *he Union Jack on a Staff Proper.

The arm is encircled by a Wreath of Palm and Laurel.

Special Honour

This technical language just means that the crest consists of a raised arm which is bent at the elbow and clothed in the uniform of a Royal Navy Captain. The arm appears from the crestwreath which comprises the two twisted bands of silk (here coloured gold and blue) on top of the helmet. The hand of the arm is holding a flagstaff bearing the Union Jack. At the base of the arm is a wreath of palm and

laurel leaves. All the components of the crest are in their natural or proper colours. The crest signifies the fact that Cook raised the British flag in an area where the British flag was previously almost unknown. When Cook claimed the soil of New Zealand and Australia for the English Crown the Union Jack was hoisted over the land claimed. The right to bear the Union Flag as part of one's achievement is considered a special honour. Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington. was awarded this privilege because of his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo Sir James Ross, who discovered the location of the magnetic pole, was granted arms which included the Union Jack because of this discovery. Cook’s claiming of Australia and New Zealand was important as it opened up a new world for the expansion of the English race. Because of the honour attached Cook was granted a wreath of palm and laurel leaves. Two Mottoes Cook’s achievement includes two mottoes which is unusual as most only have one The first motto, “Circa Orbem," is placed above the crest This means “Around the World” and obviously commemorates Cook's circumnavigation. The other motto appears in the more usual place, below the shield. This. “Nil Intentatum Reliquit," can be translated as “He left

nothing undiscovered” and is probably a reference to the extent and thoroughness of Cook’s discoveries and charts. As might be imagined the achievement contains some interesting historical detail. There is a map of the Southern Hemisphere as it was known in 1785. There is also the contemporary Union Jack which was, as can be seen from the illustration, quite different from the one in use today. Until 1801 the Union Jack consisted only of the crosses of St George and St Andrew combined. It was not until 1801 that the third cross, that of St Patrick, was added to commemorate the Union with Ireland. As was stated in the opening paragraph it is a pity that more mention is not made of Captain Cook’s heraldic achievement considering the amount of information it contains.

The author of this article has only seen four books refer to it. Two of these were published in the 1780 s. There are, however, at least two monuments which include the achievement in relief. One is. at Whitby, England, where Cook spent much of his early days. The other is in New Zealand at Ship Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound, a landing place of Cook throughout all his voyages to New Zealand. Accordingly it can be said that Captain Cook’s heraldic achievement is a unique memorial who is considered to be one of England’s greatest explorers.—Copyright.