Gerard Boate

(1604–50), Dutch author of Ireland's Natural History (1652) who died soon after his arrival in Ireland as physician with Oliver Cromwell's army. In 1645 this London-based adventurer wrote a description of Ireland and how it might be further improved by consolidation of the English Protestant interest. He synthesized information on geography, environment, and resources from his brother Arnold (physician-general to the English army in Ireland till 1644), refugee English planters, and earlier accounts, to set new standards of accuracy. Samuel Hartlib, another ‘common scientist’, had Boate's description published posthumously with the express purpose of encouraging replantation by continental Protestants as well as English adventurers.

From The Oxford Companion to Irish History in Oxford Reference.