Discovery of Captain Cook's Fabled Vessel Unearthed in Newport Harbor

According to a recent report from the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM), a remarkable discovery has been made in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island: the shipwreck of HMS Endeavour, one of the most important vessels in maritime history. This site, known as RI 2394, is actually the remains of the British troop transport Lord Sandwich, which was previously recognized as HMS Endeavour. The identification process spanned an impressive 25 years and involved thorough underwater research and collaboration among various institutions.

Originally launched in 1764 under the name Earl of Pembroke, this vessel was renamed Endeavour by the British Royal Navy in 1768 for its notable journey across the Pacific Ocean. Captain James Cook commanded it from 1768 to 1771 during its historic circumnavigation that included mapping New zealand’s coastline and Australia’s eastern shores.

After returning to England, Endeavour transitioned into a naval transport before being sold off to private owners who rebranded it as Lord Sandwich. Its last mission was serving as a prison ship during the American War of Independence. In a strategic move during an attack by American and French forces on Newport in 1778, British troops scuttled Lord Sandwich along with twelve other ships to form a blockade.

“This Final Report marks two-and-a-half decades of dedicated archaeological work on this significant vessel,” remarked Ms. Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO at ANMM.

The identification breakthrough stemmed from extensive archaeological efforts at site RI 2394. Measuring approximately 18.2 meters long by 7.3 meters wide, it exhibits features that align with those originally attributed to Endeavour—like its linear stone ballast pile and significant timber frames alongside four iron cannons.

Dr. Nigel Erskine’s pivotal research back in 2016 helped pinpoint this specific location north of Goat Island for further excavation between 2019 and 2021; these digs uncovered structural elements consistent with measurements taken during Endeavour’s Royal Navy survey back in ’68.

The evidence supporting this identification includes timber analysis revealing repairs that match documented maintenance records from ’76 while also showcasing unique characteristics like paired floor timbers corresponding precisely with where Endeavour’s masts were located.

While ongoing investigations by the Rhode Island Maritime Archaeological Project (RIMAP) are still considering other potential sites for exploration, no credible challenges have emerged against identifying RI 2394 as HMS Endeavour since its initial announcement last year.

Given its profound ancient significance across multiple nations—including Australia, new Zealand, England, America—and First Nations communities throughout the Pacific region efforts are now being made to ensure both legislative protection and physical preservation for this vital site.