Final answer:
Option (b), Captain James Cook did not invent the compass; he is known for documenting New Zealand, encountering the Great Barrier Reef, and leading scientific voyages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Captain James Cook is known for many accomplishments in his career as a British explorer and navigator but not for inventing the compass. Cook is celebrated for documenting New Zealand, seeing the Great Barrier Reef, and leading one of the first voyages to incorporate elements of marine science.
On his journey aboard the HMS Endeavour, Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia, making landfall at Botany Bay and claiming the territory for Britain as New South Wales. Notably, he did not invent the compass, as navigational devices were long in use before Cook's voyages. The compass was actually developed by the ancient Chinese during the Han Dynasty, far earlier than Cook's time.
During his voyages, Cook also worked with naturalists like Sir Joseph Banks, who documented the exotic flora and fauna they encountered. This practice was significant in European natural history and scientific illustration. His voyages set in motion events that led to the establishment of a convict colony in Australia following Britain's prison overcrowding crisis, exacerbated by the loss of the American colonies.