1769 Transit of Venus observed from Tahiti search for the alleged southern continent. HMS Bark "Endeavour" was chosen to take the astronomers and other scientists to Tahiti. James Cook was commissioned as Lieutenant and appointed to command the vessel. Cook was the obvious choice as he was an outstanding seaman with navigational qualifications, a capable astronomer and had observed a 1766 annular eclipse in Newfoundland that was communicated to the Royal Society by John Bevis. Once the "Endeavour" arrived on the island, Cook decided to set up the Venus transit observatory on shore. He required a completely stable platform which the ship could not provide and plenty
A Tour in Scotland, 1769 that attempted travels at home, therefore earnestly wish for accuracy."(May 1773). Pennant was a naturalist, and many of his observations were of the flora and fauna; but he also wrote about other subjects, including economics and what would now be considered anthropology. Besides its effect on travel writing, the work had an effect on the shifting national identities of the time. A Tour in Scotland, 1769 A Tour in Scotland, 1769 was published in 1771. It is written by Thomas Pennant and illustrated by Moses Griffiths, who travelled together. Pennant set a new standard in travel literature: Samuel Johnson (whose