Alexander Dalrymple (July 24, 1737 - June 19, 1808) was a Scottish geographer and hydrographer active with East India Company and later as first Hydrographer to the British Admiralty. Dalrymple was born at Newhailes, near Edinburgh, Scotland, the 11th of 15 children of James Dalrymple and his wife, Christian Hamilton, the daughter of the Earl of Haddington. He joined the East India Company in 1752, at which point he was immediate sent to Madras, India. There he advocated for increased trade with the East Indies and China, negotiating a treaty with the Sultan of Sulu and visiting Canton (Guangzhou), China. He went on to develop an interest in historical voyages and navigation. In 1772, Dalrymple published his first set of charts, four of which were of the seas around Sulu. In 1779, he headed the hydrographic office of the East India Company, and that of the Admiralty in 1795. Dalrymple was instrumental in advancing the mapping of uncharted waters, particularly in the East Indies and the Pacific Ocean. He was an advocate for the existence of a large southern continent, Terra Australis, which influenced British exploration efforts. Dalrymple’s extensive work on nautical charts and navigational information significantly improved the safety and accuracy of sea voyages. His dedication to hydrography laid the groundwork for future maritime exploration.