This man continued a work of Aufidius Bassus, which was cited heavily in Germania by Tacitus. This man was a procurator of several provinces in Tunisia and Spain, and served as a commander in Germania, after which he claimed to have been a messmate of Titus. He described techniques of gold mining in the largest surviving Roman-era work. Before his 
This man continued a work of Aufidius Bassus, which was cited heavily in Germania by Tacitus. This man was a procurator of several provinces in Tunisia and Spain, and served as a commander in Germania, after which he claimed to have been a messmate of Titus. He described techniques of gold mining in the largest surviving Roman-era work. Before his death he proclaimed, according to his nephew of the same name, that "Fortune favors the bold," and then took a boat to Herculaneum. For 10 points, name this Roman author of Natural History who died attempting to rescue a friend during the eruption of Vesuvius.
This man continued a work of Aufidius Bassus, which was cited heavily in Germania by Tacitus.
{Pliny} the {Elder} [prompt on {Pliny}]