Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse

Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse
Lapérouse, with the Order of Saint Louis, by Geneviève Brossard de Beaulieu (1778)
Born23 August 1741 (1741-08-23)
in Albi, France
Diedc.1788 (aged 4647)
Vanikoro, Solomon Islands (presumed)
AllegianceFrance
BranchFrench Navy
Years of service1756–1788
RankCommodore
Commands
Battles / wars
AwardsChevalier de Saint-Louis

Commodore Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (French: [lapeʁuz]; 23 August 1741 – c.1788) was a French Navy officer and explorer. Having enlisted in the Navy at the age of 15, he had a successful career and in 1785 was appointed to lead a scientific expedition around the world. His ships stopped in Chile, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Macau, the Philippines, Korea, Russia, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and Australia before wrecking on the reefs of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands.