It makes me really happy to see Dampier here. His curiosity and scientific drive was so strong that he became a pirate. Piracy was the most practical way for him to see the world and take his copious notes. As a result, he was the first (often only) reliable English language source on many topics.

Of course, the whole piracy thing basically got him canceled from history. But regardless of whether or not he was a good person, he was a fascinating and influential person. This article is well worth the read.