Jakob Roggeveen (1659 with Middelbourg with the January 31st 1729) was an explorer Dutch which was sent to find the Terra Australis, but which in the place found the Easter Island by chance in 1722.

His/her father, Arent Roggeveen, were a Mathématicien which had many knowledge in Astronomie, of Géographie and in Navigation. This last studied mythical the Terra Australis , and finally obtained a patent for an exploratory excursion. However it is his/her son who, at the age of 62, equipped thereafter three boats and made forwarding.

Previously, he had already lived an occupied life. He became notary of Middelbourg (where he was born) the March 30th 1683. The August 12th 1690, it accepted a diploma as a doctor in right to the Université of Harderwijk, and worked between 1707 and 1714 as a Raadsheer van Justitie (" lord of the Council of the justice") with Batavia (today Jakarta). In 1715, it returns in Middelbourg.

It is then implied in religious polemics by supporting the liberal priest Pontiaan van Hattem by publishing the layer valley van 'S werelds afgod . The first part appeared in 1718, in Middelbourg, and was later confiscated by the municipal council and was burned. Roggeveen flees Middelbourg, and, later, Flessingue. It is established with Arnemuiden, and publishes the second and the third part of its writings, still raising a polemic.

The 1721, it begins its forwarding from Texel to research Terra australis , with the service of the Compagnie Dutchwoman of the Western Indies. It leaves with three boats: the Arend , the Thienhoven , and the Afrikaansche Galey .

The first time, Roggeveen sails to the bottom of the Falkland Islands (which it re-elects Belgia australis ), the Détroit the Mayor crosses and continuous towards the south then reached the Pacific Ocean. It stops initially close to Valdivia. He visits the Archipel Juan Fernández, where there will remain February 24th with the March 17th. The April 5th 1722 (Sunday of Easter) it discovers the Easter Island ( Rapa Harmed ) (it paid to have seen 2.000 to 3000 inhabitants). It sails then until Batavia while passing by the Archipel of Tuamotu, the Îles of the Company, and certain islands from which it makes the discovery of which the Samoa and Makatea. It however is stopped there to have violated the Monopole of the Compagnie Dutchwoman of the Eastern Indies, but the company, later, will be forced to release it, to give him a compensation for the caused troubles and to pay its crew. In 1723, Roggeveen returns to the Netherlands.

After its return, Roggeveen publishes the fourth started from Of valley van 'S werelds afgod .