When Captain Cook died on Hawaii in 1779, Britain was already at war with France and Spain, who had allied themselves with the rebellious American colonies. The new United Sates secured their independence in 1783 and, as peace resumed, all three rival European powers turned again to considering the opportunities revealed by Cook's work in the Pacific.

    Further expeditions were soon dispatched, with some successful, some disastrous and the achievements of some are still too little known.

     This book looks at Cook's successors: Comte de Laperouse, William Bligh, Alejandro Malaspina; George Vancouver and Matthew Flinders.