IT was 220 years ago that a coat of arms was granted to the family of the North-East's most celebrated adventurer.

Elizabeth, the wife of murdered explorer Captain James Cook, successfully petitioned for armorial bearings reflecting the achievements of her explorer husband.

The grant was made on September 3, 1785, and the anniversary is being marked by the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, in Middlesbrough, with a display running until late October.

Ian Stubbs, assistant curator, said the coat of arms had features of special interest.

He said: "The two polar stars represent Cook's course navigated around the world between the two poles. Sir Francis Drake, the Tudor explorer who also circumnavigated the globe, has similar estoiles (stars) in his Coat of Arms.

"The right to bear the Union Jack as part of one's achievement is considered a special honour.

"Other rare examples include Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, who was awarded the privilege because of his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, and Sir James Ross, who discovered the location of the magnetic pole."

The exhibition includes illustrations, descriptions about the coat of arms and objects from the museum's collection.

These include the original gold and agate seal containing the coat of arms that belonged to Cook's widow, and a painted coat of arms that once belonged to the family.

The museum is open from 10am until 4.45pm from Tuesday to Sunday.