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Abel Tasman was born around 1602, in a village called Lutjegast, ( the Dutch Republic )in the Netherlands. He was born to his mother Joana Tiercx and a father who was a poor Lutheran Minister.

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Not much is known about Abel Tasman's childhood. But he was brought up with a family of farmers. And The Dutch Republic, who was ruling at the time gave good education which Abel Tasman benefited from. He had great writing skills and had a great knowledge in Latin.

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He started working for the Dutch East India Company around 1632 to 1633. He married his first wife in the late 1620's and they had a daughter together. His wife then died before 1631.

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In 1634, he was made skipper of the ship Mocha and was sent on his first long voyage to the Ceram ( modern Seram island ) in Indonesia where he was patrolling the islands for pirates. In 1637 he sailed to Jakarta where he led some trading missions to Japan, Taiwan and Cambodia.

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In 1642-1643 While also still in the service of The Dutch East India Company,. He explored the Indian Ocean, Australasia, and the Southern Pacific Ocean. And in 1642 on December 24 he was the first to reach Van Diemen's Land ( which is now Tasmania ) and New Zealand and to sight the Fiji Islands.

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In 1644 he went on his 2nd voyage but it was a disappoint to the company, because Abel Tasman had failed to reveal lands of potential wealth.

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In 1648 he left Batavia while also in charge of 8 ships to go and attack everybody. This was Abel Tasman's last trip as commander. Then in 1648 he was dismissed from the Company's Service because he was found guilty of hanging two men the year before because they disobeyed orders. He was drunk and one of the men almost died. He was then fined and had to pay some money to the relatives of the sailor that died.

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He came back to his former position, but then resigned from active service three years later.

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On the 10th of October in Batavia Abel Tasman died aged about 56 years old alongside his wife. How he died was that he; skirted the Southern end of Tasmania and turned North East. He tried to work is two ships into adventure bay. But unfortunately got blown out to sea.

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These are his boats he used on his voyages

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These are his boats he used on his voyages

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The Heemskerck and de Zeehaen