Two vessels, the Aigle and the Marie, departed under the command of Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier in 1739 to pursue a maritime discovery mission for the French East India Company. This expedition resulted in the sighting of a remote landmass on 1 January, a territory that eventually bore his name despite initial navigational errors regarding its precise geographic coordinates.
Early Training and Naval Career
Born in 1705 in Pleudihen-sur-Rance, he was orphaned at age seven. Following his education in Paris, he moved to Saint-Malo to undergo formal training in navigation. His professional ascent began in 1731 when he earned the rank of lieutenant within the French East India Company.
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The 1739 mission sought to expand French maritime knowledge. Although he successfully located the small, isolated island that carries his name, the expedition was ultimately curtailed by widespread illness among his crew. Forced to abandon his objectives, he navigated to the Cape of Good Hope before returning to France. The island remained elusive for seven decades until its rediscovery in 1808, a direct consequence of his inaccurate charting.
Colonial Administration
His later years were defined by his service as a colonial administrator within the Mascarene Islands, situated east of Madagascar. He served multiple terms as Governor General of the Mascarene, holding the position from 1750 to 1752 and again from 1757 to 1763. His administrative portfolio also included time as Governor of Réunion during these same periods, as well as serving as Governor of Isle de France from 1753 to 1755.
Personal Life and Recognition
He married Mademoiselle de Laumont in 1769; she was the grandniece of Cardinal de Fleury, and the pair had one son. His service to the Kingdom of France was formally recognized through his induction as a Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis. He died in 1786 in Saint-Malo at the age of 81.
Fast facts
- Born: 1705, Pleudihen-sur-Rance
- Died: 1786, Saint-Malo
- Citizenship: Kingdom of France
- Naval Rank: Lieutenant, French East India Company
- Award: Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis
- Governor of Réunion: 1750-1752, 1757-1763
- Governor of Isle de France: 1753-1755
- Spouse: Mademoiselle de Laumont
Questions readers ask
Why was Bouvet Island difficult to relocate?
He mislabelled the coordinates for the island during the 1739 expedition, preventing others from finding it for seventy years.
What administrative roles did he hold in the Mascarene Islands?
He served as Governor General of the Mascarene, Governor of Réunion, and Governor of Isle de France.
Achievements
- Knight of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis
- Recorded as explorer, navigator and colonial administrator
