The French Reconnaissance: Baudin in Australia, 1801-1803

Abstract

The scientific voyage of the French explorer, Nicolas Baudin, in 1800-1803, is all but forgotten, though it produced the first complete map of Australia. He did not survive the voyage which was chronicled by his enemy, the expedition's zoologist, who failed to mention Baudin's name. The expedition sank into obscurity on its return to France in 1804. It faced a government that had lost interest. However, botanists, zoologists, and anthropologists have found in the notebooks, specimens and drawings of the 22-strong scientific staff on the voyage fascinating glimpses of Australia as it was when white settlement was just beginning. Frank Horner provides this narrative to rectify the obscurity, making comprehensive use of the surviving records, presenting a clear picture of events on the expedition in a very human light. It will be welcomed by historians and those interested in the history of exploration.

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