Jeanne Baret

Jeanne Baret
Allegorical portrait of Jeanne Baret dressed as a sailor, dating from 1817, after her death.
Born27 July 1740
Died5 August 1807(1807-08-05) (aged 67)
NationalityFrench
Other namesJean Baret, Jeanne de Bonnefoi, Jeanne Barré
Occupation(s)housekeeper, valet, botanist, tavern-keeper
SpouseJean Dubernat (1774–1807)
PartnerPhilibert Commerson (1760s–1773)

Jeanne Baret ([ʒan ba.ʁɛ]; 27 July 1740 – 5 August 1807) was a member of Louis Antoine de Bougainville's expedition on the ships La Boudeuse and Étoile in 1766–1769. Baret is recognized as the first woman to have completed a voyage of circumnavigation of the globe, which she did via maritime transport.[1][2]

Jeanne Baret joined the expedition disguised as a man, calling herself Jean Baret. She enlisted as valet and assistant to the expedition's naturalist, Philibert Commerçon (anglicized as Commerson), shortly before Bougainville's ships sailed from France. According to Bougainville's account, Baret was herself an expert botanist.

  1. ^ Dunmore, John (2002), Monsieur Baret: First Woman Around the World, Heritage Press, ISBN 978-0-908708-54-3
  2. ^ Ridley, Glynis (2010), The Discovery of Jeanne Baret, Crown Publisher New York, ISBN 978-0-307-46352-4

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