Louis Antoine de Bougainville
French explorer who led the first French circumnavigation.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville, served France as both a military officer and an explorer. He fought in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, but his later fame came from voyages of discovery. He led a scientific circumnavigation of the globe beginning in 1766, established the first French settlement on the Falkland Islands in 1764 (though the islands had been previously claimed and briefly settled by the British in 1690), and explored parts of the Pacific Ocean. Today, Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea and the flowering plant bougainvillea bear his name.
Born in Paris on 12 November 1729, he was the youngest of four children. His father, a notary, had risen into the minor nobility; his mother died when Bougainville was five. Raised by his older brother and an aunt, he studied at the University of Paris, where he focused on philosophy and mathematics under Jean le Rond d'Alembert. At twenty-five, he published the first volume of a treatise on integral calculus, *Traité de calcul intégral*. This work earned him the patronage of the Comte d’Argenson, a member of the French Academy of Sciences and the War Minister. In 1756, he published the second volume and was elected to the Royal Society of London while on a diplomatic mission there.
Instead of pursuing law, Bougainville chose a military career. In 1750, he joined the French Army as a Musketeer of the Guard. He later became adjutant of the Régiment de Picardie and aide-de-camp to General François de Chevert. In October 1755, he served as secretary to Maréchal de Lévis-Mirepoix on a diplomatic trip to London, returning to France in February 1756. He then continued under Chevert and was promoted to lieutenant in the Régiment d’Apchon.
During the Seven Years' War, Bougainville was stationed in Canada as a captain of dragoons and aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Montcalm. He fought at the capture of Fort Oswego in 1756 and the Battle of Fort William Henry in 1757. Wounded in 1758 while defending Fort Carillon, he sailed back to France that winter to request more resources for the colony. For his service, he received the Cross of St Louis and a promotion to colonel. When he returned to Canada the next year, he brought few supplies; French officials had decided that, "When the house is on fire, one does not worry about the stables."
In 1759, Bougainville helped defend Quebec. Comman
- born
- 12 November 1729
- died
- 31 August 1811
- field
- Exploration, military
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- First French circumnavigation of the globe (1766–1769); first French settlement on the Falkland Islands (1764); namesake of Bougainville Island and Bougainvillea
Lore & Background
Bougainville was born in Paris on 12 November 1729, the youngest of four children. His father was a notary for the state, and his mother died when he was five. He was raised by his older brother and an aunt. He studied at the University of Paris, taking an interest in philosophy and mathematics under Jean le Rond d'Alembert. At age twenty-five, he published the first volume of a treatise on integral calculus, which was presented to the French Academy of Sciences. He later published a second volume in 1756 and was made a member of the Royal Society of London while on a diplomatic mission to England.
After graduating, Bougainville chose a military career, entering the French Army in 1750. He served as aide-de-camp to General François de Chevert and later as secretary to Maréchal de Lévis-Mirepoix, assisting with diplomatic correspondence but not acting as a primary negotiator for the Treaty of Paris.
Reader's Guide
Bougainville's significance lies in his role as a pioneering French explorer and military officer. After the Seven Years' War, he undertook the first recorded settlement on the Falkland Islands in 1764, at his own expense, though the colony was later sold to Spain for diplomatic reasons. His most famous achievement was the first French circumnavigation of the globe, which began in 1766. This expedition was notable for including professional naturalists and geographers, and for carrying the botanist Philibert Commerçon, who named the flowering plant Bougainvillea. The expedition also included Jeanne Barret, who disguised herself as a man and became the first woman known to circumnavigate the globe. Bougainville's voyages into the Pacific Ocean and his circumnavigation bolstered French prestige after the Seven Years' War. His legacy is commemorated in the name of Bougainville Island of Papua New Guinea and the plant Bougainvillea.
Did You Know?
- Bougainville published a treatise on integral calculus at age twenty-five.
- He was wounded in 1758 at the successful defense of Fort Carillon.
- The flowering plant Bougainvillea is named in his honour.
- Jeanne Barret, who disguised as a man, was aboard his circumnavigation expedition and became the first woman known to circumnavigate the globe.
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