Pliny the Elder
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishPliny the ElderPlin‧y the El‧der /ˌplɪni ði ˈeldə $ -dər/ (23–79 AD) an ancient Roman writer known for his Natural History, a very long book about plants, animals, minerals, etc. He was killed when Mount Vesuvius erupted ( erupt ), and he was the uncle of Pliny the Younger.