“Who was Jean-Fran\u00e7ois de Galaup?” someone asks. That is an excellent question. Here on All\u00e9e Jean Fran\u00e7ois de la P\u00e9rouse, we honor a man of courage and exploration.
All\u00e9e Jean Fran\u00e7ois de la P\u00e9rouse commemorates a French naval officer. He was also an explorer. La P\u00e9rouse is best known for his Pacific discoveries. He sailed off the coasts of America and Asia. Sadly, he met a tragic end near Vanikoro in 1788. This is in the Santa Cruz Islands. Today, they are known as the Solomon Islands.
Born in Albi France, Jean Fran\u00e7ois de Galaup joined the French Navy at 15. By 16, he was already seeing action. Before turning 40, he navigated extensively. His journeys included the North American coast, the Caribbean Sea, and the Indian Ocean. La P\u00e9rouse distinguished himself in many campaigns. One notable campaign was the American Revolution.
In 1782, La P\u00e9rouse captured Forts Prince of Wales and York at Hudson Bay. This act caught the attention of King Louis XVI. He also took Samuel Hearne prisoner.
The North Pacific remained largely undiscovered by Europeans. This was the state at the beginning of the 18th century. By the late 18th century, much had changed. Navigation techniques improved. The findings of Captain James Cook’s third Pacific expedition were published. Progress in preventing scurvy among crewmen also helped exploration.
After the American Revolution, the French commissioned an expedition. It was to continue where Captain Cook had left off. Finding a navigable passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was the goal. This route would go across the top of America.
Louis XVI appointed La P\u00e9rouse to lead a four-year scientific expedition in the Pacific. The king had always been interested in cartography and geography. Louis XVI directed the expedition to focus on five key areas. These were geography, politics and commerce and natural sciences. They also included interactions with indigenous people and measures for crew health.
La P\u00e9rouse and his crew sailed from Brest France on August 1 1785. They commanded the frigates Astrolabe and Boussole. La P\u00e9rouse was in charge of Boussole. Paul-Antoine Fleuriot de Langle commanded Astrolabe. They made stops in the Atlantic Ocean for celebrations before heading to the Pacific. They stopped in Chile, Hawaii, Alaska, California, China, Japan, Russia, and Australia.
De Langle led 60 men ashore on the Navigator Islands on December 11 1787. They were retrieving fresh water. There, de Langle and 11 others were attacked and killed. Later, a chaplain also died from his wounds. The remaining expeditionary force met its fate near Vanikoro in 1788.
Between 1785 and 1788, La P\u00e9rouse sent maps, journals, drawings, reports, and correspondence to the Navy Minister. He sent these from Macau, Kamchatka, and Botany Bay. Naturalist Jean-Nicolas Dufrense carried the first dispatch. It included all charts and findings from Brest. Jean-Baptiste-Barth\u00e9l\u00e9my de Lesseps carried the second dispatch. It held the findings from Macau through Siberia to St. Petersburg. British Naval Lieutenant John Shortland carried the final dispatch. It had letters and journals since leaving Kamchatka. It also reported on de Langle’s killing.
The French frigates sailed again in March 1788. The sailors expected to return to Europe in June 1789. However, the captain and crew were never seen again. It wasn’t until almost four decades later that the mystery was solved. Irish explorer Peter Dillon learned that both French frigates reefed off Vanikoro during a storm.
Political turmoil delayed the consolidation and publication of the expedition’s findings. This task was finally completed by Louis-Antoine Millet de Mureau in 1797.
As we stand here on All\u00e9e Jean Fran\u00e7ois de la P\u00e9rouse, we remember a life of exploration. We reflect on the risks taken. We consider the knowledge gained. The All\u00e9e Jean Fran\u00e7ois de la P\u00e9rouse serves as a reminder of the spirit of discovery.