Description: (Geographer and hydrographer)
Alexander Dalrymple, a Scottish geographer, served as the first Hydrographer of the British Admiralty. He promoted the idea of a large unknown continent in the South Pacific, known as Terra Australis Incognita. Dalrymple produced numerous nautical charts, offering new insights into seas and oceans and improving the safety of sea voyages. His concepts influenced various exploration missions aimed at finding this fabled land, but James Cook's expedition ultimately disproved its existence or suggested it might be situated farther to the south. Dalrymple's work significantly advanced geographical understanding and navigation.