James Cook was born on October 27, 1728, in Morton-in-Cleveland, Yorkshire, England. He was part of quite a large family, and his parents did not have a lot of money.

James attended Mr. Pullen's little school in the village of Ayton, where he was very good at maths. But it was soon time for him to earn his living; and his father apprenticed him to a Mr. Sanderson who kept a general store at Staithes. So James went off to the little harbour-town of Staithes which lies tucked in at the base of the cliffs and is reached by one very steep road. There he worked all day in a grocery shop and slept under the counter at night. In his free time (which was very little) he listened to the tales of sailors down by the tiny harbour, or outside the local tavern.

James stood it for a year and a half. One story is that he got up early one morning and just ran away to sea. Others say it is more likely that Mr. Sanderson, realizing that the life of shop-boy was no life for James, came to a kind and friendly arrangement. What we do know is that James walked the thirteen miles over the cliff to Whitby, found a ship lying alongside the quay, and offered his services to the mate. James got the job, and began his life as a sailor.