Member-only story
How We Lost Our Grip on the News
From ignorance to overload
Captain James Cook was one of the British Navy’s most famous figures at a time when his country’s fleets ruled the seas. He sailed all over the Pacific, mapping places that had previously been unknown to Europeans. He was an instrument of seemingly infinite imperial power, which is why the fact that he was killed and dismembered by people in the Hawaiian Islands shocked people around the world.
The story of Cook’s death inspired anger and debate. The basic facts of his demise were well understood: his crew had spent some time in Hawaii and had worn out its welcome. After spending several months in and around the islands, Cook attempted to leave but one of his ships was damaged in a storm. When he returned to Hawaii for repairs, the people there were quite hostile. Cook’s men and the Hawaiians traded insults, stole from one another, and eventually resorted to violence.
As tensions peaked, Cook’s men tried to take the Hawaiian chief, Kalaniʻōpuʻu, hostage. The confrontation escalated, and Cook was killed.
Afterward, Europeans debated Cook’s death. Some saw him as a great hero who had tried to civilize the people of Hawaii and was tragically killed by “savages,” perhaps while trying to keep the peace. Others highlighted his hubris and cruelty toward the Hawaiians and…
