n
nShenis the first woman to have circled the globe (at least, that we knownof)…but she had to pretend to be a man to do it!
n
n
n
n
JeannenBaret (born on this date in 1740) was a close companion to a man named Philibert Commerson, whonhad been hired as the naturalist for an expedition of discovery.nCommerson needed Baret to act as both an assistant in studyingnpreviously unknown plants (Baret was reported to be an expertnbotanist) and as a nurse, since he was often unwell. However, thenexpedition had a firm no-women-allowed rule. Baret disguised herselfnas a man called Jean (the French equivalent to the name “John”),nand just before the two expedition ships set sail, in 1766, she got a positionnas Commerson’s assistant. The two pretended not to know each othernbefore the journey!
JeannenBaret (born on this date in 1740) was a close companion to a man named Philibert Commerson, whonhad been hired as the naturalist for an expedition of discovery.nCommerson needed Baret to act as both an assistant in studyingnpreviously unknown plants (Baret was reported to be an expertnbotanist) and as a nurse, since he was often unwell. However, thenexpedition had a firm no-women-allowed rule. Baret disguised herselfnas a man called Jean (the French equivalent to the name “John”),nand just before the two expedition ships set sail, in 1766, she got a positionnas Commerson’s assistant. The two pretended not to know each othernbefore the journey!n
n
n
nOncenthe Louis Antoine de Bougainville expedition reached Montevideo, innwhat is now the nation of Uruguay in South America, Baret had to donmuch of the hard work in collecting plants, since Commerson’s leg hadnan unhealed ulcer. She probably carried most of the supplies andnspecimens, for example. The next port, Rio de Janeiro, foundnCommerson supposedly confined to the ship until his leg healed.nHowever, he and Baret still managed to collect some specimens,nincluding a gorgeous flowering plant that Commerson namednBougainvilla after the expedition leader. When they explored ruggednPatagonia, Baret gained a reputation with the entire expedition forncourage and strength, and the injured Commerson ruefully called hernhis “beast of burden.” Baret not only helped collect plants,nstones, and shells, she also helped organize and catalog thenspecimens and notes. Baret and Commerson had plenty of time to do sonwhile sailing across the Pacific Ocean from South America to Tahiti.
n
n
n
 |
| Bougainvilla bush |
n
nOncenin Tahiti, apparently, Baret was found out as a woman. Differentnjournals tell very different stories about how this discovery wasnmade (and even when and where, to some extent), but some time later,nwhen the ships landed in the French colony of Mauritius (an island innthe Indian Ocean), Baret and Commerson left the expedition to visit anfriend and fellow botanist.
n
n
n
nThentwo continued to collect botanical specimens on Mauritius, butnCommerson was running out of money and continuing to have healthnproblems. Suddenly, he died, and Baret had no way to get back tonFrance!
n
n
n
nBaret got a job running a tavern on Mauritius, and about a year later shenmarried an officer in the French army who was on his way home. Whennshe finally did get back to France with her new husband, probablynnine years after she started out with Bougainville’s expedition, shenwas able to get the money left to her by Commerson’s will. She andnher husband settled down in a peaceful little village. n
n
n
n
nHere’sna surprise: Baret was given a pension of 200 livres a year by thenMinistry of Marine, with these complimentary words:
n
n
n
n
“JeannenBarré, by means of a disguise, circumnavigated the globe on one ofnthe vessels commanded by Mr de Bougainville. She devoted herself innparticular to assisting Mr de Commerson, doctor and botanist, andnshared with great courage the labours and dangers of this savant. Hernbehaviour was exemplary and Mr de Bougainville refers to it with allndue credit…. His Lordship has been gracious enough to grant to thisnextraordinary woman a pension of two hundred livres a year to bendrawn from the fund for invalid servicemen and this pension shall benpayable from 1 January 1785.”
“JeannenBarré, by means of a disguise, circumnavigated the globe on one ofnthe vessels commanded by Mr de Bougainville. She devoted herself innparticular to assisting Mr de Commerson, doctor and botanist, andnshared with great courage the labours and dangers of this savant. Hernbehaviour was exemplary and Mr de Bougainville refers to it with allndue credit…. His Lordship has been gracious enough to grant to thisnextraordinary woman a pension of two hundred livres a year to bendrawn from the fund for invalid servicemen and this pension shall benpayable from 1 January 1785.”n
n
n
nInlove that she was given this respect and reward while she was stillnliving! So many women were hated during their lives but laternpraised.
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversary of the passage of a law that, in the U.S., cigarette packages must carry warning labels
n
n
n
n
n
nLu Pan Day in Hong Kong n
n
n
n
n