   william dampier (baptised 5 september 1651 march 1715) was the first englishman to explore parts of what is today australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. he has also been described as australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important british explorers of the period between sir walter raleigh and james cook. after impressing the british admiralty with his book, a new voyage round the world, dampier was given command of a royal navy ship and made important discoveries in western australia, but was court-martialled for cruelty. on a later voyage, he rescued alexander selkirk, a former crewmate who may have inspired daniel defoe's robinson crusoe. others influenced by dampier include james cook, lord nelson, charles darwin and alfred russel wallace. ==early life== william dampier was born at hymerford house in east coker, somerset, in 1651. he was baptised on 5 september, but his precise date of birth is not recorded. he was educated at king's school, bruton.somerset archives. records of king's school, bruton. dampier sailed on two merchant voyages to newfoundland and java before joining the royal navy in 1673. he took part in the two battles of schooneveld in june of that year. dampier's service was cut short by a catastrophic illness, and he returned to england for several months
1651_births 1715_deaths Botanical_collectors_active_in_Australia British_explorers_of_the_Pacific Circumnavigators_of_the_globe Dampier_Archipelago English_explorers English_privateers English_sailors English_travel_writers Explorers_of_Australia Explorers_of_Western_Australia Maritime_exploration_of_Australia People_from_South_Somerset_(district) Shark_Bay