250th anniversary of the discovery of the Kerguelen Archipelago

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Anatol
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

250th anniversary of the discovery of the Kerguelen Archipelago

Post by Anatol » Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:42 pm

In 1771 the French Government decided to support an expedition that they hoped would equal Cook’s achievements, solve the mystery of the Terres Australes and restore its naval prestige. Yves-Josèph de Kerguelen de Trémarec, a 37-year-old ambitious naval officer and Breton noble, had finally succeeded in being entrusted with the mission he had always wanted. On 1 May 1771, de Kerguelen’s expedition left France. His second-in-command was fellow Breton Louis François Marie Aleno de Saint Aloüarn. At the Île de France (Mauritius) de Kerguelen exchanged the 900-ton Berryer for two smaller vessels — the 24-gun flute “Fortune” and the 16-gun storeship (gabare) “Gros Ventre”, commanded by de Saint Aloüarn. On 16 January 1772 the expedition headed due south. By 13 February they were abeam of what Cook later named Kerguelen Island, which was duly claimed for France. Separated by fog, de Kerguelen headed back to France claiming to have found the Terres Australes.
De Saint Aloüarn in the “Gros Ventre” sailed eastwards to New Holland, arriving off Flinders Bay on 17 March. Unable to land due to bad weather he headed for Shark Bay. On 30 March 1772 a shore party explored Dirk Hartog Island and took possession of the land in the name of King Louis XV of France. As written in the Journal:”… took possession of the land to the N.O.1/4 N. of the ship by raising a flag, the ‘prise de possession’ written in the usual terms in such circumstances, placed in a bottle, was buried at the foot of a small tree, near which were put ‘deux écus de six francs.’ Journal de bord du Gros Ventre, 1772.” (Journal de bord du “Gros Ventre”, 1772 г.)
The “Gros Ventre” then made its way back to Île de France via Timor and Batavia (Jakarta).
De Kerguelen, meanwhile, had been sent back to the South Indian Ocean to search for the missing “Gros Ventre” and confirm his previous claims.
Thus, the islands were officially discovered by the French navigator Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec on February 12, 1772.
Thereafter, a number of expeditions briefly visited the islands, including the third voyage of Captain James Cook in December 1776. Cook verified and confirmed the passage of de Kerguelen by discovering and annotating the message left by the French navigator.
The Kerguelen Islands, also known as Îles Kerguelen and the Desolation Islands, are a small group of islands that are located in the southern part of the Indian Ocean, closer to the Earth’s southernmost continent, Antarctica.
Being an overseas territory of the French Republic, known as the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, the islands are one of the most isolated places on the planet, which have no native inhabitants, however, there are always between 50 and 100 scientists, engineers and researchers who are living in the harsh conditions.
The stamp depicts the ship "Fortune". On the MS are depict the gabare “Gros Ventre” and part of the message left in the bottle.
TAAF 2022;1,10e.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerguelen_Islands. http://www.alluringworld.com/kerguelen-islands/
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