The famous explorer known for discovering Australia is Captain James Cook. In 1770, he led the first European expedition to successfully chart the eastern coastline of Australia, claiming it for Great Britain. His detailed navigational work and maps of the area were instrumental in enhancing European knowledge of the Pacific region. Cook's voyages significantly impacted the exploration and colonization of Australia, leading to British settlement, which began in 1788. He is also noted for his contributions to oceanography and his encounters with indigenous peoples, whose histories and cultures were fundamentally altered by the European arrival.