Series 16: Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent correspondence

SAFE/MLMSS 10275/Box 3/Folder 6

series

1825-1838

9650192

1 folder of textual material

Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent (1778-1846), naturalist, was only 22 when he sailed on Baudin's Géographe as a savant. He clashed so openly with Baudin that he was one of the first to jump ship at Île de France [Mauritius]. Nonetheless, Bory de Saint-Vincent published the first account of the voyage in 1804, in which he was fiercely critical of Baudin. After leaving the expedition he spent many years exploring Réunion, becoming an expert on the natural history of the region. He joined the army on his return to France, saw action across Europe notably at Austerlitz, but after Napoleon’s defeat went into exile. The first decade of the Bourbon restoration was difficult for Bory, and saw him grasp at any number of elaborate schemes and even spend time in debtors' prison in Paris. His later career, however, saw him return to prominence.

Charles Alexandre Lesueur (1778-1846), naturalist and artist, was appointed to Baudin's Géographe as an assistant gunner, but his skills as an artist were early recognised, and he is now remembered for his deft sketches. Péron and Lesueur set about writing the official account after their return. Although both contributed to the first volume published in 1807, Péron’s failing health saw them travel several times to the south of France, where they stayed with the Freycinet family in the Drôme and tried to cure Péron’s tuberculosis in the warmer Mediterranean climate. Lesueur moved to Philadelphia in 1815 and spent the following two decades in the United States where he continued his natural history studies with great success. He remained in touch with his Baudin comrades, notably his fellow naturalist Bory de Saint-Vincent.

Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin (1768-1839) was commander of the Naturaliste on Baudin's expedition to the South Seas, 1800-1803. He died in Paris in 1839 after a long and distinguished naval career, having reached the rank of Rear Admiral.

Reference:
Compiled from the Library's acquisition file

ITEM 1
Autograph letter signed, from C. A. Lesueur to Bory de Saint-Vincent in Paris, sent from Philadelphia, 7 March 1825

ITEM 2
Autograph letter signed, from Bory de Saint-Vincent to an unknown correspondent, 28 October 1825

ITEM 3
Autograph letter signed, from Louis de Freycinet to Bory de Saint-Vincent in the debtors’ prison at Sainte-Pélagie in Paris, sent from Paris, 5 Rue St Roch, 2 March 1827

ITEM 4
Autograph letter signed, from Baron Hamelin to Bory de Saint-Vincent, sent from Paris, 29 September 1838

Chronological

Out of copyright:
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