Character Catalog

By boarding Bougainville's expedition disguised as a man, Jeanne Barret became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. This feat, accomplished under extreme conditions of concealment, remains her most iconic achievement.

Jeanne Barret contributed to the collection and preparation of more than 6,000 previously unknown plant specimens from four continents. This collection, held at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, represents a major milestone in 18th-century botany.

During the stopover in Brazil, Jeanne Barret was one of the first Europeans to collect the bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis). Some historians even credit her with the initial discovery, before it was officially attributed to Commerson.

After the expedition's departure, Jeanne Barret continued to work with Commerson on plants from the Indian Ocean, enriching the herbaria with previously unknown local species that were transmitted to French scientific institutions.

Barret [...] had endured, without being recognized, all the hardships of this campaign. She had assisted Commerson in his botanical research with great zeal and intelligence.

His Majesty, wishing to reward the services rendered by citizeness Barret, who circumnavigated the globe disguised as a man, grants her an annual pension of two hundred livres.

My servant Barret, whose faithfulness and zeal for the natural sciences never wavered, was of invaluable assistance to me in the collection and classification of plants.

Jeanne Barret, a native of La Comelle in Burgundy, aged about thirty-five years, married Jean Dubernat in the church of Saint-Aulaye.

Jeanne Barret's birthplace, where she grew up in a peasant family. This place anchors her humble origins, far removed from the world of navigation and scholarly botany.

Major French military port from which Bougainville's expedition set sail in November 1766. It is here that Jeanne Barret secretly boarded the Étoile.

Island where her female identity was revealed by the local inhabitants in April 1768. Bougainville describes the scene in his journal, making Jeanne famous despite herself.

Island where Jeanne Barret and Commerson were disembarked after the revelation. She lived there for several years, continuing botanical research and running a tavern after Commerson's death.

Town where Jeanne Barret married Jean Dubernat and spent her final years. She died there in 1807, without ever receiving the recognition she deserved.

Cylindrical metal box used by field botanists to preserve fresh specimens. Jeanne Barret carried one during each stopover to bring plants and flowers back to Commerson.

Men's shirt, breeches, jacket and hat, accompanied by bandages to flatten the chest. This costume allowed Jeanne to illegally board a French royal vessel for more than a year.

Tool consisting of two wooden boards and absorbent sheets used to dry and flatten collected plants. Jeanne used it daily to prepare the 6,000 specimens brought back from the expedition.

Small brass and glass hand lens used to observe details of plants and insects. An essential instrument in the daily work of a botanical assistant in the 18th century.

Chart engraved on vellum depicting known coastlines and maritime routes. Aboard the Étoile, these charts were constantly consulted to locate stopovers and collection areas.

Small thick-papered notebook in which Jeanne Barret recorded plant descriptions, their habitat and local uses. These notes fed into Commerson's scientific work.