Zachary Hickes

Zachary Hickes (c.1729 – 25 May 1771) was a Royal Navy officer, second-in-command on Lieutenant James Cook's voyage to the east coast of Australia. Hickes spelt his name with an "e", but it has often been written by others (including Cook) as Hicks without the "e".

Hickes was 29 and held the rank of lieutenant when appointed to Cook's voyage in the "Endeavour" in 1768. He had previously served on other ships as master's mate and as acting lieutenant. On the "Endeavour" he was credited with locating Hicks Bay in New Zealand, and then with being the first to see the mainland of Australia at Point Hicks (land was sighted on his morning watch). Cook named both those places after him.

Hickes died at the Dutch port of Batavia on the homeward leg of the voyage in 1771 while the ship was undergoing repairs, and he was buried at sea there. The port was rife with fever and dysentery at that time, but Hickes died of a consumption which Cook records he had carried ever since leaving England (though it seems not to have interfered with his duties).

References

*

* Ray Parkin, "H. M. Bark Endeavour", Miegunyah Press, second edition 2003, ISBN 0-522-85093-6

See also

Named after Hickes:
* Hicks Bay, in New Zealand
* Point Hicks, in Australia