Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Encyclopedia
Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne (22 May 1724 – 12 June 1772), with the surname sometimes spelt Dufresne, was a French
explorer who made important discoveries in the south Indian Ocean, in Tasmania and in New Zealand, where he died. He is commemorated in various place names, as well as in the name of the research vessel providing logistical support to the French Southern Territories
of Île Amsterdam
, Île Saint-Paul
, Îles Crozet, and Îles Kerguelen, the Marion Dufresne II.
at the age of 11 as a sub-lieutenant
aboard the Duc de Bourgogne
. However, the Australian historian Edward Duyker
, in the (revised) French edition of his biography of Marion Dufresne, has revealed that this was in fact the future explorer's elder brother.
During the War of the Austrian Succession
, he commanded several ships and was a captain by 1745. In the Seven Years' War
, he was engaged in various naval operations. After the war, he again sailed on the East India routes and eventually settled in Port Louis
on Mauritius
, where he also was the harbourmaster for some time.
, the civil administrator, to equip him with two ships and send him on a twofold mission: first, he was to bring Ahu-toru, a Tahitian who had been brought to Paris
and displayed there, but brought back only as far as Mauritius, back to Tahiti
; and second, he was to search for the southern continent. Du Fresne was given two ships, the Mascarin and the Marquis de Castries. Ahu-toru died of smallpox
shortly after their departure from Port Louis
.
On this expedition, he discovered first the Prince Edward Islands
and then the Crozet Islands
before sailing towards Australia
. They spent a few days in Tasmania
, where Marion Bay in the south-east is named after him. He was the first European to explore the island and, due to his interaction with the Tasmanian Aboriginies, was the first person to show that Australia was not terra nullius
.
's Mount Taranaki
on March 25, 1772, and named the mountain Pic Mascarin without knowing that James Cook
had named it "Mount Egmont" three years earlier.
Over the next month, they explored the islands, repaired their ships and treated their scurvy
, first anchoring at Anchor Cove and later in the Bay of Islands
. Apparently their relations with the Māori were peaceful at first; they could communicate thanks to their Tahitian vocabulary learned from Ahu-toru, and the Māori even held a ceremony for them.
However, the French appear to have broken tapu by fishing in Manawaora Bay. Tapu had been placed on the area after members of the local tribe drowned here some time earlier, and their bodies had been washed up at Tacoury's Cove. The local Māori believed that the violation would anger not only the gods but neighbouring tribes, provoking war. So on June 12, 1772, a few hundred Māori warriors set on du Fresne and his fishing crew, who had unsuspectingly arrived in his favourite fishing area in a small "gig". Du Fresne and twenty six men of his crew were killed and eaten, including de Vaudricourt and Lehoux, Pierre (a volunteer), Thomas Ballu of Vannes, Pierre Mauclair (the second pilot) from St Malo, Louis Ménager (the steersman) from Lorient, Vincent Kerneur of Port-Louis, Marc Le Garff from Lorient, Marc Le Corre of Auray, Jean Mestique of Pluvigner, Pierre Cailloche of Languidic and Mathurin Daumalin of Hillion.
Lieutenant Crozet went with a small party in search of du Fresne when he did not return to the Mascarin. When Crozet learned of their deaths, he returned to the ship. In retaliation, the French burned down a village named Paeroa, killing 250 Māori. They named the bay "Anse des Assassinats" (Assassination Cove).
They left on 12 July 1772. The French buried a bottle at Waipoa on Moturua, containing the arms of France and a formal statement taking possession of the whole country, with the name of "France Australe."
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
explorer who made important discoveries in the south Indian Ocean, in Tasmania and in New Zealand, where he died. He is commemorated in various place names, as well as in the name of the research vessel providing logistical support to the French Southern Territories
French Southern Territories
The French Southern and Antarctic Lands , full name Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands , consist of:...
of Île Amsterdam
Île Amsterdam
New Amsterdam, Amsterdam Island, or Île Amsterdam is a French island in the Indian Ocean located at . It is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.- History :...
, Île Saint-Paul
Île Saint-Paul
Île Saint-Paul is an island forming part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in the Indian Ocean, with an area of . It is located about southwest of the larger Île Amsterdam, and south of Réunion...
, Îles Crozet, and Îles Kerguelen, the Marion Dufresne II.
Early career
He was born in Saint Malo and, until recently, was thought to have joined the French East India CompanyFrench East India Company
The French East India Company was a commercial enterprise, founded in 1664 to compete with the British and Dutch East India companies in colonial India....
at the age of 11 as a sub-lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
aboard the Duc de Bourgogne
French ship Duc de Bourgogne (1752)
The Duc de Bourgogne was a 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.She was refitted twice, in and 1761 and 1779, having har hull copered....
. However, the Australian historian Edward Duyker
Edward Duyker
Edward Duyker is an Australian historian and author born in Melbourne, Victoria, to a father from the Netherlands and a mother from Mauritius...
, in the (revised) French edition of his biography of Marion Dufresne, has revealed that this was in fact the future explorer's elder brother.
During the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, he commanded several ships and was a captain by 1745. In the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, he was engaged in various naval operations. After the war, he again sailed on the East India routes and eventually settled in Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
on Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, where he also was the harbourmaster for some time.
Exploration
When the French East India Company collapsed and was dissolved in 1769, du Fresne was suddenly unemployed. He convinced Pierre PoivrePierre Poivre
Pierre Poivre was a French horticulturalist born in Lyon; missionary to China and Cochinchina, Intendant of the Islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, and wearer of the cordon of St. Michel...
, the civil administrator, to equip him with two ships and send him on a twofold mission: first, he was to bring Ahu-toru, a Tahitian who had been brought to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and displayed there, but brought back only as far as Mauritius, back to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
; and second, he was to search for the southern continent. Du Fresne was given two ships, the Mascarin and the Marquis de Castries. Ahu-toru died of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
shortly after their departure from Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
.
On this expedition, he discovered first the Prince Edward Islands
Prince Edward Islands
The Prince Edward Islands are two small islands in the sub-antarctic Indian Ocean that are part of South Africa. The islands, named Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, are located at ....
and then the Crozet Islands
Crozet Islands
The Crozet Islands are a sub-antarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean. They form one of the five administrative districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.-Geography:...
before sailing towards Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They spent a few days in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, where Marion Bay in the south-east is named after him. He was the first European to explore the island and, due to his interaction with the Tasmanian Aboriginies, was the first person to show that Australia was not terra nullius
Terra nullius
Terra nullius is a Latin expression deriving from Roman law meaning "land belonging to no one" , which is used in international law to describe territory which has never been subject to the sovereignty of any state, or over which any prior sovereign has expressly or implicitly relinquished...
.
New Zealand
He sighted New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's Mount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Although the mountain is more commonly referred to as Taranaki, it has two official names under the alternative names policy of the New Zealand...
on March 25, 1772, and named the mountain Pic Mascarin without knowing that James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
had named it "Mount Egmont" three years earlier.
Over the next month, they explored the islands, repaired their ships and treated their scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
, first anchoring at Anchor Cove and later in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
. Apparently their relations with the Māori were peaceful at first; they could communicate thanks to their Tahitian vocabulary learned from Ahu-toru, and the Māori even held a ceremony for them.
However, the French appear to have broken tapu by fishing in Manawaora Bay. Tapu had been placed on the area after members of the local tribe drowned here some time earlier, and their bodies had been washed up at Tacoury's Cove. The local Māori believed that the violation would anger not only the gods but neighbouring tribes, provoking war. So on June 12, 1772, a few hundred Māori warriors set on du Fresne and his fishing crew, who had unsuspectingly arrived in his favourite fishing area in a small "gig". Du Fresne and twenty six men of his crew were killed and eaten, including de Vaudricourt and Lehoux, Pierre (a volunteer), Thomas Ballu of Vannes, Pierre Mauclair (the second pilot) from St Malo, Louis Ménager (the steersman) from Lorient, Vincent Kerneur of Port-Louis, Marc Le Garff from Lorient, Marc Le Corre of Auray, Jean Mestique of Pluvigner, Pierre Cailloche of Languidic and Mathurin Daumalin of Hillion.
They left on 12 July 1772. The French buried a bottle at Waipoa on Moturua, containing the arms of France and a formal statement taking possession of the whole country, with the name of "France Australe."
External links
- Biography of Marc Joseph Marion du Fresne, Dictionary of New Zealand BiographyDictionary of New Zealand BiographyThe Dictionary of New Zealand Biography contains biographies for over 3,000 New Zealanders. It is available in both English and Maori. All volumes of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography are available online....
- http://history-nz.org/discovery4.html
- http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10318b.htm
- http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/IdeasOfMaoriOrigins/2/ENZ-Resources/Standard/2/en