Jeanne Baret was a botanist involved in the Bougainville Exploration Mission, which traveled around the world to collect plant specimens from various places.
She was born in 1740 in a village in France.
Not much is known about her early years. But we know that her mother died when she was 15 months old and her father when she was 15 years old. Her family was very poor. As for her education as a botanist, there is no exact information, how she received it.
It all started when she was hired as a domestic helper by Commerson, a well-known French naturalist. When his wife died, Jeanne also had an affair with him and eventually became pregnant. But the baby died a few months after birth.
Commerson was called to the Bougainville mission but was initially hesitant due to his fragile health. However, he agreed to participate when Jeanne wanted to accompany him to help him. The problem was that women were not allowed on French navy ships at the time, so she introduced herself as a man.
The voyage began in December 1766. Some of the places they visited were Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo in Uruguay, Patagonia, Tahiti, Mauritius, Madagascar, India and Réunion, to take plant samples, shells and rocks.
During the explorations, Jeanne gained the reputation of a bold man. But in April 1768 her gender was discovered.
Commerson eventually died in 1773. She stayed in Mauritius and set up her own restaurant.
In 1774 she married a French army officer and a year later returned to Paris.
France awarded her many prices for her offer.
She lived in the country until 1807 when he died.
[Source: en.wikipedia.org]
