Biography

French surgeon and naturalist. Louis Auguste Deschamps set sail in 1791 on the French frigate L'Esperance, which went in search of the ill-fated La Perouse that had vanished in Oceania. The expedition not only failed in its mission but was also unlucky in terms of weather, disease, and politics. Of its 119 crew, 89 died, including the captain, Chevalier d'Entrecasteaux, and its ships were seized by the Dutch in Indonesia. Deschamps remained in the Dutch colony until 1802, exploring the flora of Java on behalf of the Governor. He is credited by some as the discoverer of Rafflesia. All his notes and specimens, however, were taken from him when the ship in which he was travelling home was captured by the British, and were later donated to the British Museum in 1861. Deschamps settled down as a surgeon in the civilian hospital of his native town of Saint-Omer in northern France, but continued to take an interest in botany. Palisot de Beauvois named the genus Deschampia P. Beauv. in his honour.

Sources:
B. Dayrat, 2003, Les botanistes et la flore de France: trios siécles de dècouvertes: 520.

Biography

French surgeon and naturalist. Louis Auguste Deschamps set sail in 1791 on the French frigate L'Esperance, which went in search of the ill-fated La Perouse that had vanished in Oceania. The expedition not only failed in its mission but was also unlucky in terms of weather, disease, and politics. Of its 119 crew, 89 died, including the captain, Chevalier d'Entrecasteaux, and its ships were seized by the Dutch in Indonesia. Deschamps remained in the Dutch colony until 1802, exploring the flora of Java on behalf of the Governor. He is credited by some as the discoverer of Rafflesia. All his notes and specimens, however, were taken from him when the ship in which he was travelling home was captured by the British, and were later donated to the British Museum in 1861. Deschamps settled down as a surgeon in the civilian hospital of his native town of Saint-Omer in northern France, but continued to take an interest in botany. Palisot de Beauvois named the genus Deschampia P. Beauv. in his honour.

Sources:
B. Dayrat, 2003, Les botanistes et la flore de France: trios siécles de dècouvertes: 520.