Dumont d’Urville, Jules (1790-1842), a French explorer and naval officer, made several voyages of exploration to Australia and New Zealand. He contributed much to the knowledge of the geography and plant life of both countries. One of his most notable voyages was his visit to New Zealand in 1827, in the warship Astrolabe, to explore uncharted parts of the coastline. He charted much of the western coast of the South Island and the eastern coast of the North Island. He was born on May 23, 1790, in Condé-sur-Noireau, France, and died on May 8, 1842.
