John Lawson (1674?-1711) was a British explorer, naturalist and writer. He played an important role in the history of colonial North Carolina. He led a small expedition out of Charleston and up the Santee River to explore the Carolina backcountry. Along the way he took careful note of the vegetation, wildlife and, in particular, the many Indian tribes he encountered. Lawson wrote an account of his adventure, A New Voyage to Carolina (1709), in which he described the native inhabitants and the natural environment of the region. The book was an instant success and several editions were published including versions in German and French. The resulting publicity attracted many settlers to North Carolina. Lawson played a major role in the founding of two of North Carolina's earliest settlements-Bath and New Bern. Bath became the first town incorporated in what was to become North Carolina. Part of the incorporated land was owned by Lawson and he became one of the first town commissioners. Later he became clerk of the court and public register for Bath County.