Abel Janszoon Tasman
Abel Janszoon Tasman, (c. 1603-59). Dutch explorer and navigator. In the service of the Dutch East India Company he led an expedition to explore Australia (1642-43). In the course of this voyage he discovered Van Diemen’s Land, which he named after his patron; the island was later renamed Tasmania in his honour. On the same expedition he also discovered New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji.
