William Dampier (1652-1715) was an English explorer and sea captain. He was the first Englishman to explore or map parts of New Holland (Australia) and New Guinea. Captained a voyage of discovery on HMS Roebuck

He is known as a buccaneer captain, though some dispute this.

Dampier Archipelago off Western Australia is named after him.

He was a member of the pirate ship, the Cygnet, which was beached on the northwest coast of Australia. It was beached somewhere near King Sound which is in Western Australia.