However, in 1776 Gore answered the call from Cook and the admiralty once again and joined HMS "Resolution" as First Lieutenant for Cook's third voyage. As the "Resolution" explored the Pacific in search of the famed Northwest Passage, Gore would sight the American continent of his birth from the west coast. Later, following Cook's death in Hawaii, Charles Clerke, captain of "Resolution's" sister ship HMS "Discovery" took command. Gore then assumed command of "Discovery" in Clerke's place. When Clerke himself died shortly after, Gore took responsibility for the entire expedition (unaware that his place of birth had declared its independence from Great Britain two years previously) and brought the ships home to England on 4 October 1780—more than a year after assuming command. He was formally promoted to the post of captain on 2 October 1780.