Original: Pliny 's uncle , Pliny the Elder , helped raise and educate him and they were both witnesses to the eruption of Vesuvius on August 24 , 79 AD , the day of the elder 's death .
Simplified: Pliny 's uncle , Pliny the Elder , helped raise and educate him and they were both witnesses to the eruption of Vesuvius on August 24th , 79 AD .