Herman Spöring

Dr Herman Diedrich Spöring Jr (or Spoering) (1733 - 1771) was a Finnish explorer and botanist, one of three scientists who accompanied James Cook on the 1769 HM Bark Endeavour expedition to Australia; Cook named Spöring Island on the coast of New Zealand in his honor.

In 1771, Spöring died of food poisoning during the return voyage from Australia; the city of Sydney has built a statue to commemorate him.

Spöring discovered and illustrated a number of Australian species; consequently, his contribution to the historical development of the theory of evolution is significant.

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