He was awarded the Copley Medal for detailing his work against scurvy.
For a paper he prepared detailing his groundbreaking work against scurvy, Captain James Cook was awarded the gold Copley Medal?one of the highest honors of England?s Royal Society. Scurvy epidemics were once common among sailors on long voyages. Cook was the first to beat the problem, recognizing the need for an appropriate diet for his sailors. In 1795, lime juice was issued to all British sailors to aid in prevention of scurvy.
