Lepaute Dagelet at Botany Bay and his Encounter with William Dawes

Author: IVAN BARKO
Explorations No 43 (Dec 2007): 21-40
https://doi.org/10.62586/YKQP5021

This is an account of the life and career of the French astronomer Joseph Lepaute Dagelet, who was the senior astronomer on the Lapérouse expedition. he was elected to the Académie Royale des Sciences. Dagelet served on the Boussole, Lapérouse’s ship, and was close to his commander. The article focuses on the period spent by the expedition at Botany Bay between 26 January and 10 March 1788, and Dagelet’s encounter with the First Fleet’s astronomer, William Dawes. The two scientists were planning long-term cooperation but the Vanikoro shipwreck a few weeks later put an end to Dagelet’s life.

Keywords: École Militaire, Académie Royale des Sciences, Botany Bay, William Dawes, Vanikoro shipwreck sites, Jérôme Lalande