Jacob Roggeveen

[2] His father, Arend Roggeveen, was a mathematician with much knowledge of astronomy, geography, rhetorics, philosophy, and the theory of navigation as well.

He occupied himself with study of the mythical Terra Australis, and even got a patent for an exploratory excursion,[2] but it was to be his son who, at the age of 62, eventually equipped three ships and made the expedition.

On 1 August 1721 he headed an expedition sponsored by the Dutch West India Company, the rivals of the VOC, to seek Terra Australis and to open a western trade route to the "Spice islands" in the East Indies.

[3][5] At Makatea, he opened fire on a crowded beach in retaliation for a violent encounter with the inhabitants, and in return the Makateans ambushed a shore party, killing ten of his crewmen.

[3] The remaining two vessels sailed past New Guinea to reach Batavia in 1722, where he was arrested for violating the monopoly of the VOC and had his ships confiscated.