![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Staying on board as a woman was sometimes dangerous. 5īaret continued on the ship from Tahiti to New Ireland – located today in Papua New Guinea. When taken back aboard the Étoile she confessed to lying and revealed her true identity. One account notes that when she went ashore in Tahiti, the Tahitian natives quickly noticed her gender. Historians do not know the actual story of how the reveal took place. But in Tahiti Baret’s true identity was revealed. 4 Baret was able to hide her true identify from the crew for much of the journey by remaining private and defensive. In Greek mythology, Cythera was thought to be the birthplace to the goddess of love and beauty. 3Īfter successfully sailing through the Strait of Magellan at the tip of South America, the Étoile reached Tahiti in 1767. Baret named the new plant Bougainvillea after the leader of the expedition. It is believed that Baret was the one who discovered a strange new flowering vine adorned with bright pink and purple flowers. Again, Commerson and Baret had the opportunity to explore the territory and observe the plants. After the stop in Montevideo, the ship sailed on to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this excursion, Commerson was sickly and could not do much so Baret took over a majority of the work. Commerson and Baret collected plant samples and observed the surrounding environment. One of the first stops made during the journey was in Montevideo, Uruguay. Their goal was to circumnavigate – sail around – the world. The Étoile set sail from Nantes, France in 1766. Two ships were part of this journey: The Boudeuse and the Étoile which Baret and Commerson sailed on. Using the name “Jean” Baret, she was hired to work as Commerson’s assistant on the ship called the Étoile. In order to avoid this law, Baret dressed herself as boy. But the French Navy did not allow women on board ships. He insisted that his assistant, Jeanne Baret, come along. Bougainville invited Commerson to join him as his botanist. In 1765, Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, a French admiral and explorer, was asked to go discover new territories for France. Baret continued to act as a housekeeper and eventually a nurse for Commerson. The couple moved to Paris and gave up their baby up for adoption soon after the child was born. Baret and Commerson lived together and had a child out of wedlock in 1764. 2 It was during this time that Baret and Commerson formed a close friendship.Ĭommerson became much more personal when Commerson’s wife died in 1762. He had moved close to Jeanne’s hometown to work and collect plant samples. Commerson studied medicine, natural history, and botany – the study of plants. Years later, Baret was employed as a housekeeper to Philibert Commerson. She became known as an “herb woman” due to her knowledge of botanical (plant) medicine. Although she had no formal education, Jeanne Baret possessed a strong knowledge of botany at a young age. 1 Since she grew up in a rural area, Baret became skilled at gathering and learning about different plants. One record indicates that her father was a day laborer who helped with farming and harvesting. Jeanne Baret was born Jin Autun, France to Jean and Jeanne Baret. It is only in recent years that Baret’s story became a more recognized part of history. Without knowing, Jeanne Baret became the first woman to circumnavigate the world. Although Baret initially joined the voyage to assist Philibert Commerson, she studied many new plants and the environments in which they grew. So the French government funded hundreds of expeditions to travel around the world. At this time, France was looking to expand its economy. ![]() Jeanne Baret sailed around the world as part of the first French circumnavigation of the globe from 1766 to 1769. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |