Freycinet family aggregated collection of papers chiefly from the Archives de Laage

fonds

1803-1880

Textual Records, Manuscript Cartographic Materials

9661692

Louis de Freycinet (1779-1842) and his brother Henri (1777-1840) both sailed with Baudin on his expedition to the Pacific between 1800 and 1804, exploring the south and south-west coasts of Australia and visiting Sydney. Both men were involved in the official account of the voyage, particularly Louis who wrote much of the narrative and prepared it for publication following the death of the expedition's naturalist, François Péron in 1810. In later years Henri saw active service on various warships and was subsequently appointed to the governorships of French colonies overseas.

In 1817, Louis was appointed commander of the Uranie on a voyage of exploration and scientific discovery to the Pacific which included visits to Western Australia and New South Wales. During a month-long stay in Sydney in November 1819 Freycinet visited Parramatta and some members of the expedition ventured across the mountains to Bathurst. The Freycinets formed firm friendships with members of Sydney society including the Macquaries, Macarthurs, Pipers and Fields. It was one of the most important expeditions into the Pacific in the early years of the 19th century and Louis would spend the rest of his life preparing the narrative of the voyage which included a substantial study of New South Wales.

Rose de Freycinet (1794-1832), the wife of Louis, was an unauthorised member of his 1817 expedition, smuggled on board by her husband disguised as a cabin boy. She was one of the first women to circumnavigate the globe and wrote a journal and a series of letters recording her experiences (acquired previously by the State Library of New South Wales).

Reference:
Library acquisition file

Most of the manuscripts have red stamps of the 'Archives de Laage', a Freycinet family property until the 1980s at L’Age-Bertrand near Bordeaux in the Charente department of western France.

An archive of manuscript letters and documents mainly relating to brothers Louis and Henri de Freycinet and their immediate families and some professional colleagues.

COLLECTION 1
Freycinet family archive, with additional related material, 1803-1880

COLLECTION 2
Freycinet family archive further papers, with additional related material, 1804-1842

French, English

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales