Dalrymple, originally a clerk in the East India Company’s service, had spent some years trading amongst the islands of the Malay Archipelago and China, returned to England and published a couple of pamphlets on the East Indies, and in 1767 a book on the discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean, which brought him to the notice of the Royal Society.  He was afterwards for a time hydrographer to the East India Company, and was then appointed the first hydrographer to the Admiralty.  He was dismissed from this position for exceeding his powers, and soon afterwards died.  He appears to have been a clever man, but of an extremely overbearing disposition and a very high opinion of himself.  In writing to Dr. Hawkesworth on one occasion, he said:  “I never write on any subject I do not thoroughly understand.”  What makes the remark more interesting is that he was quite in the wrong on the subject under discussion.  He appears never to have forgiven Cook for having been successful in obtaining the command of the expedition to observe the Transit of Venus, and for completely upsetting his pet theory of a large continent in the Southern Ocean.

Purchase of the endeavour.

The Navy Board, having been ordered by the Admiralty to propose a proper vessel to convey the observers to the South Seas, first suggested the Tryal Sloop, and then the Rose, but both being found unsuitable they were ordered to purchase one.  On 29th March the Board wrote to Stephens that they had bought: 

“a cat-built Bark, in Burthen 368 Tuns and of the age of three years and nine months, for conveying such persons as shall be thought proper to the Southward...”

At the same time, instructions were sought as to fitting and arming her for the service, and as to the name under with she was to be registered on the list of the Navy.  A cat-built ship is described in the Encyclopaedias as one with round bluff bows, a wide deep waist, and tapering towards the stern.  The name is derived from the Norwegian kati, a ship.

The cat-built bark, the now immortal Endeavour, was built by Messrs. Fishburn of Whitby, and owned by Mr. William Milner of that port.  Dr. Young says that her original name was the Earl of Pembroke, but Sir Evan Macgregor wrote to Mr. Waddington in 1888 that she was purchased “under the name of the Endeavour, and was entered as a barque.”  The Warrant Entry Book from Board of Trade proves that Dr. Young was right, as the following entries will show: 

“Deptford, March 23rd 1768.  Two cats called the Valentine and the Earl of Pembroke to be surveyed and report which is the properest to be purchased.”

“Deptford, March 28th 1768.  Ship Earl of Pembroke to be received.”

“Deptford, April 7th 1768.  Ship purchased to be sheathed, filled, and fitted for a voyage to the southward.  To be called The Endeavour Bark.”