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William Dampier (1651-1715) was an English explorer, navigator, and writer who became the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. Born in East Coker, Somerset, Dampier began his career at sea as a teenager and went on to lead a life that would blend piracy with pioneering exploration. Dampier's contribution to hydrography and natural history is significant; he recorded invaluable observations about the winds, currents, and tides across the world's oceans, as well as the flora and fauna of the lands he visited. His literary style merged precise scientific description with vivid narrative, which endeared him to scholarly and general audiences alike. His most influential work, 'A New Voyage Round the World' (1697), detailed his adventures and became popular for its combination of scientific observations with buccaneer exploits. His later book, 'A Voyage to New Holland, Etc. in the Year 1699,' further cemented his reputation as a keen observer and chronicler of the natural world. Dampier's legacy endures in the wealth of geographical and scientific knowledge he contributed, influencing explorers and scientists long after his passing. His meticulous records and publications set a new standard for the inclusion of natural history and ethnography in travel literature, offering a template for future explorers and contributing to the development of these disciplines.