Search
Map of South America highlighting Juan Fernandez Island off of the west coast, near Chile
Photo

Map of Juan Fernandez Island

View Image
Three hundred year old pen and ink drawing of a "strange and large" bat.
Photo

New Guinea Bat

View Image
The arrows show the direction of ocean currents recorded by William Dampier while crossing “La Grande Mer du Sud”—the Pacific Ocean.
Photo

Pacific Ocean Currents

View Image
After leaving Australia, Dampier and his men reached the western coast of New Guinea on New Year’s Day 1700. There Dampier observed birds that he had never seen before, like the “stately land-fowl” shown here.
Photo

New Guinea Birds

View Image
As Dampier studied the plants he encountered in Australia, he wrote that they were “for the most part unlike any I had seen elsewhere.” In fact, nearly all the plants Dampier observed were entirely unknown to botanists at that time.
Photo

More Australian Plants

View Image
As soon as Dampier set foot in Australia, he began making observations and collecting specimens of plants, which he carefully pressed between the pages of books to be studied by the “ingenious” and “curious” upon his return to England. As Dampier conducted his investigations, his artist made detailed sketches like these.
Photo

Australian Plants

View Image
Giant tortoise habitat on Galapagos Islands.
Photo

Cerro Azul, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands

View Image
Captain William Kidd
Photo

Captain Kidd on His Ship

View Image
Captain William Kidd at Gardiner's Island
Photo

Captain William Kidd

View Image
A privateer was a seaman with a license from his country's government to attack enemy ships. The government usually got a share of the profits.
Photo

Privateer definition

View Image
This is the cover of the book Dampier wrote about his first trip around the world.
Photo

Book Cover for Dampier's Account of his First Trip Around the World

View Image
This map shows the route of Dampier’s first voyage around the world.
Photo

Dampier’s First World Voyage

View Image