Pliny the Elder was a Roman author, naturalist, and military commander born in 23 AD. He is best known for his encyclopedic work, Natural History, which covers a wide range of topics, including astronomy, geography, botany, and zoology. This influential text aimed to compile all known knowledge of the natural world at the time. Pliny served in various military and administrative roles throughout his life, including as a naval commander during the Roman Empire. He died in 79 AD while attempting to rescue friends during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which also destroyed the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.