Who was the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe?

TL;DR

Jeanne Baret disguised herself as a man to join a French expedition, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.

Transcript

Born Jeanne Baret to a farming family in 1740, not a lot is known about her childhood and early life. It’s speculated that she likely had an interest in plants from a young age and later became an herb woman with a wealth of knowledge of the healing properties of local flora. As an herb woman, she would have had the opportunity to dispense medical ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👱‍♀️ Jeanne Baret was an herb woman with knowledge of local flora before becoming the housekeeper of Philibert de Commerson, a scientist.
• 🥸 She disguised herself as a man to join a royal expedition and successfully hid her true gender for a significant period.
• 👶 Baret made significant contributions to the expedition by discovering new plants and documenting her own findings.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Jeanne Baret disguise herself as a man for the expedition?

Baret joined the expedition just before the ship sailed, presenting herself as a "young man." The ship captain gave up his cabin for Commerson, Baret, and the equipment, providing privacy, and Baret claimed to be a eunuch when suspicions arose.

Q: What contributions did Jeanne Baret make to the expedition?

Baret discovered many new plants, including the Bougainvillea, which was named after the expedition leader. She collected samples and documented her own discoveries since Commerson was unable to walk due to health issues.

Q: How was Jeanne Baret discovered as a woman?

There are conflicting accounts, but it is believed that she was revealed either by a group of Tahitians or the ship's crew upon arrival in Tahiti. Bougainville reported that she had to be quickly ushered back onto the ship to avoid conflict.

Q: What happened to Jeanne Baret after the expedition?

Baret and Commerson left the expedition and disembarked at Mauritius. Commerson died there, leaving Baret with preserved plants and records. She later returned to France, received a pension, and completed her circumnavigation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jeanne Baret, an herb woman, became the housekeeper of Philibert de Commerson, a scientist studying plants.

• Baret fell pregnant, most likely by Commerson, and gave her son up to the Paris Foundlings Hospital.

• Baret disguised herself as a man and joined a royal expedition, where she discovered new plants and successfully hid her gender until being revealed in Tahiti.