In an era when women were forbidden from setting foot on naval vessels, Jeanne Baret defied the odds, embarking on a journey that would make her the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Her tale is one of courage, intelligence, and an unyielding passion for exploration—an adventure that took her across continents and oceans, all while disguised as a man.
Born in 1740 in France, Jeanne Baret was a woman of remarkable intellect and curiosity. Raised in the countryside, she became well-versed in herbal medicine and botany. She later became the assistant and companion of the famed botanist Philibert Commerson, who was invited to join Louis Antoine de Bougainville’s 1766-1769 expedition—the first French circumnavigation of the globe.
Women were strictly prohibited aboard naval ships, but Baret refused to be left behind. In what will now be considered an audacious move, she disguised herself as a man, adopting the alias "Jean Baret." She bound her chest, donned men’s clothing, and stepped aboard the Étoile, a ship bound for the unknown.
The expedition set sail from France, stopping at various exotic locales, including Brazil, Argentina, Tahiti, and Mauritius. As Commerson’s assistant, Baret played a crucial role in collecting and documenting plant specimens. She endured gruelling conditions—cramped ship quarters, extreme weather, and the constant risk of exposure.
In Brazil, she helped document the region's flora, including the now-famous "Bougainvillea", named after the expedition’s leader. In the Pacific, she encountered indigenous peoples and landscapes never before seen by European eyes. Through it all, she carried on her work diligently despite the ever-present danger of being discovered.
Her secret did not last forever. Accounts differ on how she was eventually exposed—some say fellow sailors grew suspicious, while others claim she was discovered in Tahiti when local islanders immediately recognised her as a woman. Whatever the circumstances, her revelation placed her in great danger aboard a ship full of men.
Instead of returning to France immediately, Baret and Commerson stayed in Mauritius, a French colony. She continued her botanical work there until Commerson’s untimely death in 1773. Left alone in a foreign land, Baret had to carve out her path. She eventually married a French naval officer and finally secured passage back to France.
Upon her return, Jeanne Baret had accomplished what no woman before her had—she had circumnavigated the world. Though she initially received little recognition, history has since acknowledged her contributions. The French government later awarded her a pension for her work, and in modern times, botanists have named the species Solanum baretiae in her honour.
Baret’s journey was more than an act of rebellion—it was a testament to the spirit of exploration and the power of perseverance. She ventured into uncharted territories, not just of geography but of societal expectations, proving that curiosity and determination can break even the most rigid barriers.
(Inputs from multiple sources)
