Research Catalog

Title

An officer of the blue : Marc-Joseph Marion Dufresne, South Sea explorer, 1724-1772 / Edward Duyker.

Author

Duyker, Edward.

Publication

Carlton, Vic. : Melbourne University Press, 1994.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

xvi, 229 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.); 25 cm.

Summary

French explorer Marion Dufresne was the man who reached Tasmania before the English. His expedition was the first to encounter the Tasmanian Aborigines and was a precursor of the great voyages of La Perouse, d'Entrecasteaux, Baudin and d'Urville. France was not idle in her search for the Southland at the time of James Cook's great expeditions. It is puzzling that Marion's name is absent not only from Australian but also from French reference works. His life of high adventure demands description--early success as a Breton corsair, a crucial part in the daring rescue from Scotland of Bonnie Prince Charlie, numerous voyages to the East, entrepreneurial boldness, discovery of the most westerly islands in the Indian Ocean and an early visit to New Zealand. He was surely one of the most colorful characters in our maritime history, and his story is told here with verve and skill.

Subject

• Marion du Fresne, M.-J. 1724-1772
• Explorers > France > Biography
• Explorers > Oceania > Biography
• Explorers > Tasmania > Biography
• Explorers > New Zealand > Biography
• Oceania > Discovery and exploration
• Tasmania > French
• New Zealand > French
• Oceania > French

Genre/Form

Biographies

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-220) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

ISBN

0522845657

OCLC

• 31886926
• SCSB-11405884

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library