After 250 years shrouded in mystery, the final resting place of the Endeavour — the iconic ship that carried Captain James Cook and the first British expedition to Australia — has finally been confirmed.
Between 1768 and 1771, the Endeavour became the first European vessel to reach eastern Australia and to sail around New Zealand’s main islands.
While James Cook secured his place as one of history’s most celebrated explorers, his famous ship faded from memory, eventually being repurposed as a troop carrier.
In 1775, the ship was sold, renamed Lord Sandwich, and ultimately scuttled off the American coast in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War.
Where Was Cook’s Lost Ship Found?
Today, the sunken remains of the Endeavour have been located in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, after experts officially matched the wreck to the one cataloged as RI 2394.
The confirmation was announced by the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) in a new report, marking the end of 25 years of research with what they describe as a “definitive statement.”
“This final report is the culmination of 25 years of meticulous, painstaking archaeological investigation into this significant ship,” said the museum’s director, Daryl Karp.
“It involved underwater excavations in the U.S. and extensive research in institutions around the world.”
Experts reached their conclusion by comparing the wreck with historical plans of the Endeavour. They found timber beams precisely where the ship’s main and fore masts would have stood. The wreck’s measurements also match those recorded during a 1768 naval inspection before Cook’s epic voyage.
Portrait of James Cook / Photo: AP Photo
Additionally, wood analysis confirmed the material’s European origin, consistent with records showing the Endeavour underwent repairs in 1776 — years after its renowned expedition.
All of this adds up to a “weight of evidence” that strongly indicates the Newport wreck is indeed the Endeavour.
“The timbers are British,” said ANMM archaeologist Kieran Hosty.
“The dimensions of every beam — the so-called scantlings — match almost exactly with the Endeavour’s specs. We’re talking about differences within millimeters, not inches.”
“The bow joint is perfectly identical — a unique feature. We studied dozens of 18th-century ship plans and found nothing else like it,” Hosty added.
Photo: Painting by Samuel Atkins (1760–1810) — National Library of Australia
Disputed Waters: Controversy Over the Claim
However, the discovery is not without controversy. When the ANMM released a preliminary report in 2022 identifying RI 2394 as the Endeavour, their partners at the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) pushed back strongly.
In a statement, RIMAP insisted they were the lead researchers on the project and called the conclusions “premature” and a “breach of agreement.” Nevertheless, ANMM archaeologists maintain they have robust evidence.
Statue of James Cook / Photo: AP Photo
“The Lord Sandwich was intentionally sunk as a blockade ship,” said ANMM archaeologist James Hunter.
“The chances of finding an obvious identifier, like a ship’s bell, were always slim. Any valuable item would have been removed before the ship was sunk. But everything we’ve recovered so far clearly points to the 18th century.”
Hosty added:
“We’re never going to find something down there that literally says ‘Endeavour.’ There’s no plaque reading ‘Cook was here.’ Nor will we see a ship’s bell engraved ‘Endeavour,’ scratched out with ‘Lord Sandwich’ beneath it. What we do have is a chain of clues, all pointing to RI 2394 being HMB Endeavour.”
Preserving a Historic Wreck
Replica of the Endeavour / Photo: AP Photo
So far, only about 15% of the ship’s structure remains intact. Researchers are now focused on how best to protect and conserve what’s left for future generations.
In a follow-up statement, the ANMM acknowledged RIMAP’s “excellent historical analysis and detailed cataloguing of artefacts.”
“We recognise that RIMAP continues to accept that RI 2394 could be the Endeavour, while also noting there may be other possible wrecks,” the museum noted.
Daryl Karp also thanked the museum’s archaeological team, Dr Kathy Abass in Rhode Island, and the local state authorities for their invaluable support throughout the investigation.
