Jacob Roggeveen was a Dutch explorer. He was born on February 1, 1659 in Middelburg and died on January 21, 1729 also in Middelburg. He went to the University of Harderwijk. His religious beliefs were Protestant. His parents were Arend Roggeveen and Maria Storm, and his spouses were Marija Margaerita Vincentius and Anna Adriana Clement. He married Marija Margaerita Vincentius, but she sadly passed away in October 1694. Then afterwards, Roggeveen married Anna Adriana Clement, but she also sadly passed away.
On August 1, 1721, he went on an expedition to find Terra Australis, but instead found Easter Island. That time, he was serving for the Dutch West India Company, which was a company of Dutch merchants. His father, Arend Roggeveen, knew the theory of navigation very well. So, he kept himself busy by studying all about Terra Australis, but his son, was the one who made the expedition. Arend's son, Jacob, had a very hectic life.