Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation

Biographical Note

Jean François de Galaup (Comte) de la Pérouse was born in Albi, France, on 22 August 1741 to a noble family. La Pérouse began naval college at a young age and became an accomplished navigator during his service in the Seven Years War. He went on to serve France in the American Revolutionary War, during which he led a ship to victory at the naval battle of Louisbourg and headed the successful Hudson Bay Expedition of 1782. La Pérouse was chosen by King Louis XVI to lead an expedition to survey the North and South Pacific and Indian Oceans to study the climates, flora and fauna and to collect specimens. La Pérouse and his crew were seen for the last time on 10 March 1788, leaving Botany Bay, Australia. In 1826 European vestiges were found near the Solomon Islands, where it is believed La Pérouse's ships L'Astrolabe and La Boussole fatally crashed into Vanikoro Island's fringing reef.

Scope and Contents Note

This collection contains one letter dated 3 July 1783, written in French by La Pérouse to an unknown person. The letter claims that a greater sum is owed to La Pérouse for bringing passengers home in the frigates L'Astree and L'Engageante after his Hudson Bay Expedition of 1782.

Finding Aid

A finding aid for this collection is available online.

Other Resources

For information about portraits of and biographical citations for the subject, see the Hunt Institute Archives Register of Botanical Biography and Iconography database.