William Dampier

William Dampier was from England. He is always thought of as a buccaneer. This meant he was involved with many others sailing the seas robbing, looting and stealing. Dampier and his fellow buccaneers landed in New Holland, in 1688. They stayed for about two weeks.

After this, Dampier made the long voyage back to England. He lived there for almost ten years. But his passion for adventure lead him back to the high seas. He wanted to go back to New Holland and explore it. But this lime he wanted his voyage to be an honest one. It is not known exactly why Dampier changed so much. But the words he wrote in the first pages of his book, “A Voyage to New Holland", show that he thanked God for what he was able to do;

"But this Satisfaction I am sure of having, that the things themselves in the discovery of which I have been employed, are most worthy of our diligentest search and inquiry; being the various and wonderful Works of God in different parts of the world: And however unfit a person I may be in other respects to have undertaken this task, yet at least I have given a faithful account, and have found some things undiscovered by any before, and which may at least be some assistance and direction to better qualified persons who shall come after me.

I returned to England in the Canterbury East-India-Ship. For which wonderful Deliverance from so many and great dangers, I lhink myself bound to return continual thanks to Almighty God; whose Divine Providence if it shall please to bring me safe again to my native country from my present intended voyage; I hope to publish a particular account of all the material things I observed in the several places which I have now but barely mentioned."