Final answer:
Captain James Cook is credited with first noticing Norfolk Island during his second voyage to the South Pacific in 1774. This was part of a larger European exploratory efforts leading to significant claims and colonies, including the eastern coast of Australia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The European credited with first noticing Norfolk Island is Captain James Cook. On his second voyage to the South Pacific in 1774, Cook noted the island but did not land there. This journey by James Cook was part of a broader pattern of European exploration during which he also made contact with Polynesian people and claimed the eastern coast of Australia for Britain in 1770, naming it New South Wales and opening up the possibility of establishing a penal colony to relieve prison overcrowding in England. These acts of exploration and claiming of lands were pivotal moments in the era of European expansion, with various countries establishing colonies across the world.