I was born in Nottinghamshire and was the third of five sons. My father was not a rich man, but he was able to send me to Cambridge University, where i studied for three years. When I left college, I continued my studies and became a doctor. But I always wanted to travel, and so I made several voyages as a ship's doctor. When I married my wife Mary. however, I planned to stay at home for a while. But after a few years I discovered I was not earning enough money fore my patients. I decided to the islands in the South Pacific Ocean. We started our journey form Bristol on May 4th, 1699