Jacob Roggeveen had departed on August 1, 1721, on his expedition, in the service of the Dutch West India Company, to seek Terra Australis.

The expeditionary fleet consists of three ships, the Arend, the Thienhoven, and Afrikaansche Galey.

Roggeveen first sails down to the Falkland Islands (which he renames "Belgia Australis").

Jacob’s father, Arend Roggeveen, was a mathematician with much knowledge of astronomy, geography, rhetorics, philosophy and the theory of navigation as well.

He had occupied himself with study of the mythical Terra Australis, and had even gotten a patent for an exploratory excursion; but it was to be his son who, at the age of 62, eventually equips three ships and makes the expedition.

Before he set out, Jacob Roggeveen had already lived a busy life, having become notary of Middelburg (the capital of the province of Zeeland, where he was born) on March 30, 1683.

He had graduated on August 12, 1690, as a doctor of the law at University of Harderwijk.

He had married Marija Margaerita Vincentius, but she died in October 1694.

He had joined the Dutch East Indies Company in 1706, serving between 1707 and 1714 as a Raadsheer van Justitie ("Council Lord of Justice") at Batavia, Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta).

He had married Anna Adriana Clement there, but she died soon afterward.

He had in 1714 returned alone to Middelburg.

He had become involved in religious controversies, supporting the liberal preacher Pontiaan van Hattem by publishing his leaflet De val van 's werelds afgod ("The fall of the world's idol").

The first part had appeared in 1718, in Middelburg, and was subsequently confiscated by the city council and burned; Roggeveen had fled from Middelburg to nearby Flushing.

He had thereafter, established himself in the small town of Arnemuiden, and published parts two and three of the series, again raising a controversy.