Zachary Hickes
Encyclopedia
Zachary Hickes was a Royal Navy
officer, second-in-command on Lieutenant James Cook
's voyage to the east coast of Australia
. Hickes spelt his name with an "e", but it has often been written by others (including Cook) as Hicks without the "e".
Hickes was 29 and held the rank of lieutenant when appointed to Cook's voyage in the Endeavour
in 1768. He had previously served on other ships as master's mate
and as acting lieutenant. On the Endeavour he was credited with locating Hicks Bay
in New Zealand
, and then with being the first to see the mainland of Australia
at Point Hicks
(land was sighted on his morning watch). Cook named both those places after him.
Hickes died at the Dutch port of Batavia
on the homeward leg of the voyage in 1771 while the ship was undergoing repairs, and he was buried at sea there. The port was rife with fever and dysentery
at that time, but Hickes died of a consumption which Cook records he had carried ever since leaving England (though it seems not to have interfered with his duties).
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer, second-in-command on Lieutenant James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
's voyage to the east coast of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Hickes spelt his name with an "e", but it has often been written by others (including Cook) as Hicks without the "e".
Hickes was 29 and held the rank of lieutenant when appointed to Cook's voyage in the Endeavour
HM Bark Endeavour
HMS Endeavour, also known as HM Bark Endeavour, was a British Royal Navy research vessel commanded by Lieutenant James Cook on his first voyage of discovery, to Australia and New Zealand from 1769 to 1771....
in 1768. He had previously served on other ships as master's mate
Master's mate
Master's mate is an obsolete rating which was used by the Royal Navy, United States Navy and merchant services in both countries for a senior petty officer who assisted the master...
and as acting lieutenant. On the Endeavour he was credited with locating Hicks Bay
Hicks Bay
Hicks Bay is a coastal area in the Gisborne region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 150 km east of Opotiki and 186 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Potaka and Te Araroa. The area is named after Zachary Hickes, second-in-command of James Cook's Endeavour,...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and then with being the first to see the mainland of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Point Hicks
Point Hicks
Point Hicks, formerly called Cape Everard, is a coastal headland on the eastern coast of Victoria, Australia, located within the Croajingolong National Park.- Name :...
(land was sighted on his morning watch). Cook named both those places after him.
Hickes died at the Dutch port of Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
on the homeward leg of the voyage in 1771 while the ship was undergoing repairs, and he was buried at sea there. The port was rife with fever and dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
at that time, but Hickes died of a consumption which Cook records he had carried ever since leaving England (though it seems not to have interfered with his duties).
See also
Named after Hickes:- Hicks BayHicks BayHicks Bay is a coastal area in the Gisborne region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 150 km east of Opotiki and 186 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Potaka and Te Araroa. The area is named after Zachary Hickes, second-in-command of James Cook's Endeavour,...
, in New Zealand - Point HicksPoint HicksPoint Hicks, formerly called Cape Everard, is a coastal headland on the eastern coast of Victoria, Australia, located within the Croajingolong National Park.- Name :...
, in Australia