French naval surgeon, entomologist and botanist who studied the flora of New Caledonia. With his co-collector Eugene Vieillard Emile Deplanche published Essais sur la Nouvelle Caledonie in 1863. Deplanche was born at Argentan (Orne) and studied medicine and zoology at Caen. He served as a surgeon in the Crimean War from 1854, and his desire to travel was fulfilled when he embarked as surgeon on a ship bound for Cayenne in August that year. While stationed in the Guianan city he devoted his spare time to exploring the flora and fauna, and collecting specimens. Late 1855 brought a yellow fever epidemic in the French colony and the crew of Deplanche's ship, le Rapide, was hit particularly hard. Deplanche miraculously escaped the disease while carrying out his medical duties, for which he was praised on his return to the French port of Cherbourg. He also gained renown for his collection of birds from Cayenne, but his plant collections had deteriorated badly before he reached home. After some months recovering from the traumatic trip to South America, Deplanche embarked on a ship once more, this time bound for Tahiti. Here he collected molluscs and birds, and encountered the Austrian scientific mission of the Novara. Aiding the expedition party in their research in Tahiti, he was rewarded with a corresponding membership of the Vienna Imperial Academy.
Deplanche gladly set sail in 1858 for New Caledonia, accompanying the colonial governor on his way to Noumea. Once arrived, Deplanche was given a scientific commission and made collections of plants, animals and mineral deposits on the island. At this time he crossed ships, embarking on l'Hydrographe, which allowed him to explore more of New Caledonia, in particular in the little known Bay of St. Vincent and Mont Dore, with Eugene Vieillard.
Deplanche left New Caledonia in October 1859 with large natural history collections. Some 85 species of birds returned to France with Deplanche, which were studied by the ornithologist and collector Jules Verreaux, and by O. Desmures. In addition he had with him insects, molluscs, crustaceans and fish, and a number of human skulls. He spent some time in Normandy working on his Essay on New Caledonia, co-authored by Vieillard and published in 1863. The pair returned to New Caledonia on the Isis, travelling via the South African Cape, Réunion and Sydney. At Noumea they went their separate ways, Vieillard to Wagap, Deplanche to Lifou in the Loyalty Islands. He was posted there for over a year, permitting him plenty of time to study the island's natural history before serving on board la Fine, undertaking a hydrographic mission in the Pacific.
After surviving a native attack at the garrison of Gatope, Deplanche was awarded the Légion d'Honneur in August 1865. Suffering from ill health, however, he finally returned to France in March 1867. Before his death, Deplanche managed to complete further work while residing in his home town, publishing a paper on the people of New Caledonia. He bequeathed his library, manuscripts and medals to the town of Argentan.
Sources:
J.H. Pearn, 1994, "Surgeon Emile Deplanche (1824-1875). Scientist and doctor of the South Pacific", Medical Journal of Australia, 160: 568-571
E. Vieillard, 1876, "Notice sur la vie et les travaux d'Emile Deplanche", Bulletin de la Société Linnéenne de Normandie, 2(10): 341-350.
