1768-1779 Voyages of Captain James Cook led the British expedition aboard the HMS Endeavor, HMS Adventure and HMS Resolution throughout the South Pacific for astronomical study. Cook also charted New Zealand and Eastern Australia. Later expeditions found him seeking the northwest passage of North America (Bearing Sea), South America and the region south of the Antarctic Circle. He was killed in Hawaii on an expedition where he remarked about the agility of surfers. Captain Cook led the way in sampling sub-surface temperatures and he is known best for measuring winds and currents, using a tide gauge to investigate tidal ranges, collecting water samples, making depth soundings, recording coral reef data, testing chronometers and taking care to ensure the health of his men by providing fruit and vegetables to prevent scurvy. He is further credited with making one of the first accurate maps of the earth's surface.

1831-1836 The voyage of the HMS Beagle on which Charles Darwin served as naturalist (without pay) had among its major objectives to complete a survey of South America. Darwin recorded his observations of plants, animals, fossils, geology, and sociology of South America in his diary-like journals, and he collected specimens for museums as well. He was especially interested in the coral reefs and atolls of the South Pacific and the diversity of life in the Galapagos Islands.

1871-1876 The Expedition of the HMS Challenger under Captain George Nares was the first large-scale voyage primarily for studying oceanography. It was funded by the British government at the recommendation of the Royal Society. This 2306 ton corvette had been refitted with laboratories for the scientific experiments of its 6 scientists headed by Sir Wyville Thompson. It travelled 127,500 km over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and gathered data such as 487 sea soundings (measured Marianas Trench at 8185m). Wyville recorded serial water temperature observations using protected reversing thermometers and collected sediments. 

1839-1896 The voyage of the Fram, a Norwegian vessel, explored the North Atlantic and Arctic area. This wooden ship was especially developed to withstand being frozen into the winter ice sheets where it drifted within the ice. This voyage proved that there was no continent in the Arctic Sea.