HMS Endeavour: Wooden Merchant Ship Model

In 1768, Lieutenant James Cook was invited to command an expedition on board HMS Endeavour to the South Seas sponsored by the Royal Society.

HMS Endeavour: Wooden Merchant Ship Model

Where appropriate, all scale ship models are constructed with hardwood using the plank-on-frame technique and built to scale using ships' drawings. The models use cotton sails and rigging and in the case of the larger vessels are suitable for use as exhibits in galleries or museums. Many models are available in Large and Small sizes with both versions offering the same level of detail.

Stocks of most models are held but you should allow up to 8 weeks for some of the larger models. If you have specific enquiries for other ships, please contact us. Models are shipped all over the world in secure packaging at very reasonable prices.

In any event, if you have any queries, please contact us by mail or call us by telephone and we will be pleased to help.

HMS Endeavour: Ship's History

Original specifications: (ex-Earl of Pembroke, later La Liberté); Type: Cat-bark (3 m); Dimensions (L/B/D): 29.7 x 8.9 x 3.4 m; Hull: Wood; Complement: 85-94; Armament: 6 x 4 pounder, 8 swivels; Built: Fishburn,Whitby, England; Year: 1764

In 1768, Lieutenant James Cook was invited to command an expedition on board HMS Endeavour to the South Seas sponsored by the Royal Society.

The voyage’s mission was to visit Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus across the Sun and to determine whether there was a great Southern Continent or, as it was originally  known, Terra Australis.

Renamed from HM Bark to HMS Endeavour, she set sail from Plymouth on 25 August, 1768 and arrived in Tahiti on 13 April, 1769. Cook’s crew established good relations with the Tahitians and stayed on the island for 3 months.

They first landed on New Zealand on 4 October, 1769 and established that there were two islands separated by what became known as the Cook Strait. Cook abandoned his search for Terra Australis on 31 March, 1770 and only bad weather caused him to arrive off New Holland (in fact, Australia) on 19 April, 1770.

After claiming New Holland for the British Crown, Cook set sail but the voyage was plagued by illness and ill fortune and 30 crew died during the journey. Cook and HMS Endeavour finally anchored in the Downs on 12 July, 1771 after a circumnavigation lasting 2 years, 9 months and 14 days.

Following a refit on 7 March, 1775, HMS Endeavour was sold to the Navy and sailed for 15 more years. She was purchased by French interest in 1790 and renamed La Liberté. In 1793, she ran aground off Rhode Island and was later broken up. A replica of the ship was later commissioned at Fremantle as recently as 1994.

Models are handmade so delivery time may vary. Please contact us for more details