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Hey folks, long time lurker and first time poster on these boards. My question is simple: what if James Cook, famed explorer of the Pacific for the British Empire, survives his third voyage which took place from 1776-1779?

After discovering the Hawaiian Islands and establishing somewhat cordial relations with the natives Cook proceeded north to explore the Pacific Northwest. However, the foremost of his ship Resolution broke off shortly after leaving Hawaii necessitating a return to the islands for repairs. Relations with the native Hawaiians rapidly deteriorated and this culminated in a violent altercation that left Cook and several Royal Marines dead.

The POD is simply that this accident does not occur and Cook thus avoids being killed.

How does Cook's naval career unfold if he returns home to England from a successful third voyage? Will he continue to explore the Antarctic regions he had charted or does he take up a more administrative position within the Admiralty and possibly influence British voyages of discovery for the rest of the 18th century?
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