Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman was a Dutch seafarer and explorer who was the first European to sight Tasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Fiji Islands.

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Profession :

Explorer

Birthday :

1603

Death Date:

October 10, 1659

Age :

56

Birthplace :

Lutjegast, Dutch Republic

Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603? – 1659) was a renowned Dutch explorer and seafarer, primarily known for his expeditions in 1642 and 1644 under the Dutch East India Company (VOC). He is credited with being the first European to discover New Zealand and Tasmania. However, his initial encounter with New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people turned violent, causing him to abandon his aspirations of establishing trade relations. Tasman’s significant accomplishments include mapping and exploring the coastlines of these newly discovered territories, which laid the groundwork for further exploration and trade in the South Pacific.

In addition to discovering New Zealand and Tasmania, Tasman’s other notable achievements include:

1. The discovery of Tonga and the Fiji Islands.
2. Charting the northwest coastline of Australia.
3. Leading the first known European expedition to reach the Australian continent’s shores.
4. Establishing the sea route to the Dutch East Indies.
5. Mapping the coasts and waters of the East Indies.

Abel Tasman ranks as the 14th most popular explorer and the most popular Dutch explorer. An interesting fact about him is that he was the first European to sight Tasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Fiji Islands.