Pallas, Peter Simon (1741-1811), traveller and naturalist, was born at Berlin, and in 1767, at the invitation of the Empress Catherine, accepted the professorship of Natural History at St. Petersburg. He went to Siberia in 1768 to observe the transit of Venus, and spent the following six years travelling there, penetrating to the frontiers of China. He remained in Russia till 1810, when he returned to Berlin. He was an indefatigable naturalist, and published many works on natural history, of which the greater part deal with the flora, fauna, and ethnology of the Russian possessions.
Pennant, Thomas, LL.D. (1726-98), Scotch naturalist and antiquary. He was the author of "British Zoology" (1766); "Synopsis of Quadrupeds" (1771), afterwards enlarged and published as the "History of Quadrupeds" (1781); "Genera of Birds" (1773), etc. He was a constant correspondent of Gilbert White of Selborne.
Piso, William (17th century), Dutch naturalist and doctor, accompanied Prince Maurice of Nassau as his physician on his voyage to Brazil in 1636, taking with him two young German savants, Marcgrav (q.v.) and Kranitz. The observations which he and Marcgrav made were published in 1648 under the title of "Historia naturalis Brasiliæ." He was the first to introduce into Europe and to describe ipecacuanha and its medicinal properties.
Quiros, Pedro Fernandez de (died 1614), Spanish navigator, accompanied Mendana in 1595 to the Solomon and Santa Cruz Islands. On the death of Mendana, Quiros brought the remains of the fleet to Manilla, and then returned by South America to Madrid. Obtaining permission to search for the supposed Southern Continent, he set out again from Lima in 1605, and discovered "Dezana," afterwards called Osnaburg Island. In the following year he discovered Otahite, which he named "Sagittaria." Proceeding westwards he then discovered "Terra del Espiritu Santo," one of the New Hebrides. From this point he turned back to Mexico, and died at Panama in 1614.
Rembrantz von Nierop, Dirk (1610-82), Dutch astronomer and mathematician, published, besides several works on mathematics and astronomy, a short account of Tasman's voyage.
Roggeween, Jacob (1659-1729), Dutch navigator, was at one time counsellor of the Court of Justice at Batavia. In his voyage round the world he started from Holland in 1721, reached the Falkland Islands, and sailed south as far as 62½° S. lat., then went to Chile, Juan Fernandez, Easter Island (of which he was the discoverer), New Britain and Batavia. An account of his voyage was published in 1728.
Rumphius or Rumpf, George Eberhard (1627-1702), German doctor and botanist. He went out to the Dutch possessions in the