Who discovered Antarctica and when?

The history of Antarctica begins with European discoverers. In 1000 the Europeans reached Antarctic waters.
James Cook is central to the history of Antarctica. His tour of Antarctica around the world from 1772 to 1775 was the first of many government expeditions to Antarctica. Cook could not see land, but his two ships penetrated the sea ice well and south of the Antarctic Circle, far enough for him to say with sufficient certainty that there is land at the South Pole.