(1741-1788) French explorer and navigator. In 1785 he was sent by Louis XVI on an exploratory voyage to the N and S Pacific, also with the aim of annexing the part of Australia not taken possession of by Capt Cook. In Dec 1787 he arrived in Botany Bay just days after the arrival of the First Fleet, and spent six weeks there repairing and refitting. On 24 Jan 1788 he established a camp on the N of Botany Bay. He sailed again in March and was not seen again. It is likely that his ships were wrecked on Vanikoro Island in the Santa Cruz group.
He was born in Albi, France. The northern shore of Botany Bay near where his ships were anchored is named for him.