French Interest in the South Pacific
While Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville was the only Frenchman to approach Australia's east coast before the First Fleet arrived, French interest in the southern hemisphere goes back to the 16th century.
The earliest waves of Europeans who ventured out into the Atlantic and beyond included Frenchmen among the melange of Portuguese, Spaniards, Italians, Dutchmen and Englishmen.
French fishers crossed to Newfoundland before it was 'newly found'.
Jean de Béthencourt and Gadifer de la Salle were among the first to visit the Canary Islands; Spanish, Portuguese and Italian interests overshadowed their achievements.
Paulmier de Gonneville set out in 1503 to follow the Portuguese sea route to the East. He found a paradise and brought a prince back with him. However, it took until 1663 for his story to emerge.
Others followed, including the Sieur de la Bardeliere, Augustin de Beaulieu and François Caron. However, the latter initially sailed in the Dutch VOC's service.
However, until the wave of Enlightenment travellers that began with Bougainville and continued through La Pérouse, de Bruni (chevalier d'Entrecasteaux) and Baudin, French activity was eclipsed by others.
After defeat in the Seven Years' War prompted France to replace the overseas interests they lost at the Treaty of Paris, the British were forced to pay close attention to French activities in the Pacific.
Indeed, rumours that the La Pérouse expedition carried a party that might establish a settlement in New South Wales may have prompted the British decision to despatch the First Fleet.
Frenchmen sniffing around Australia's southern coastline prompted British settlements in Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.
So, although none ventured into Northern waters after the Barrier Reef blocked Bougainville's progress in that direction, Frenchmen played significant roles in the broader narrative of Australian exploration.
