caption serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place burial_place allegiance birth_date rank image article_title name
captain james king , 1782 by john webber 1762 -- 1784 royal navy discovery 1774 6 crocodile 1781 6 resistance 1781 6 nice , france 16 november 1784 clitheroe , lancashire , england nice , france kingdom of great britain 1750 post captain captain james king.jpg james king -lrb- royal navy officer -rrb-
 james king
james king -lrb- royal navy officer -rrb-

james king frs -lrb- 1750 -- 16 november 1784 -rrb- was an officer of the royal navy .
he served under james cook on his last voyage around the world , specialising in taking important astronomical readings using a sextant .
after cook died he helped lead the ships on the remainder of their course , also completing cook 's account of the voyage .
he continued his career in the navy , reaching the rank of post-captain , commanding several ships and serving in the american war of independence .
