Jules de Blosseville

Jules Poret de Blosseville (29 July 1802 – August 1833) was a French naval officer, geographer and explorer. Born in 1802, he joined the French Navy at the age of 16. From 1822 to 1825, he participated in an expedition that explored the South Pacific and, by its conclusion, circumnavigated the world. He disappeared in August 1833, while in command of his own expedition to the Arctic. Early life Jules Poret de Blosseville was born on 29 July 1802 in Rouen, Normandy, the son of a vicomte. He had an older brother who later succeeded to the title. He was well educated with interests in astronomy and zoology. He joined the French Navy in 1818 and, as an officer, joined an expedition to the West Indies aboard the Railleur. In August 1822, Blossville was selected as a midshipman on Louis Duperrey's expedition aboard La Coquille to explore the South Pacific. With Lieutenant Jules Dumont d'Urville, well known for his role in the discovery of the Venus de Milo statue, as second in command, it was intended to sail to several islands in the region, conducting hydrographical and ethnological surveys. Blosseville's berth on La Coquille was due to the influence of his father, who was acquainted with the Minister of the Navy, Duc de Clermont-Tonnerre. Exploring the Pacific The expedition departed Toulon on 10 August 1822, making for South America. After stopping at Brazil and the Falkland Islands, the French rounded Cape Horn on 31 December 1822 and travelled along the coast to Peru, conducting hydrographic surveys. They reached Tahiti in May 1823, anchoring at Matavai Bay where Blosseville started his hydrographical surveying work. While at Tahiti, Blosseville became acquainted with Captain John Dibbs of the colonial barque Endeavour. With Dibbs, he sailed to Maupiti Island to map it for the expedition. While there he collected a bird specimen, the Maupiti Monarch, which was soon to become extinct.