Jean-François de Surville

Who Was Jean-François Marie de Surville?

Jean-François Marie de Surville, a French merchant captain born in the picturesque region of Brittany in 1717, embarked on an expedition that would change the course of history. At just ten years old, he joined the French East India Company and later fought in several wars before rejoining the company to explore the vast South Pacific.

Exploring the Unknown

Surville’s mission was not only to find Davis Land but also to establish a French foothold in the region. His journey took him from South America, where he encountered bad weather off the coast of South Africa and his ship, Saint Jean-Baptiste, was wrecked near Cape Town. Despite these challenges, Surville managed to safely evacuate everyone on board.

From Cape Town to New Zealand

In 1769, Surville set sail with 172 men aboard the Saint Jean-Baptiste. His voyage took him through various French settlements before he entered the Pacific. He stopped at Terengganu and kidnapped islanders to replace deserting crew members. His secret instructions led him southeast from his official destination of Canton, where he encountered hostility in the Solomon Islands.

Encounters with Māori

The expedition arrived in New Zealand on December 12, 1769. Surville’s party explored the east coast of the North Island and anchored in Lauriston Bay. The Māori traders provided fresh food to the sick crew members, helping them recover from scurvy. Surville even attached a white ostrich feather to a chief’s head, which was considered highly tapu.

Conflict and Resolution

A storm stranded a party of men on shore at Whatuwhiwhi, where they were treated hospitably by the Māori. Surville and part of his crew spent several hours trying to bring the Saint Jean-Baptiste to a more sheltered anchorage. On December 30, an officer spotted the yawl ashore on Tokerau Beach surrounded by Māori, leading Surville to believe it had been stolen.

Peace and Departure

Ranginui’s chief approached Surville carrying a twig of green leaves, a sign of peace in Māori culture. However, Surville arrested him for the theft of his yawl. Ranginui was brought back to their ship, where the crew members who had been stranded during the storm identified him as the chief who had been hospitable to them.

Final Journey and Legacy

Surville decided to sail eastwards for South America instead of north to the Philippines or Dutch East Indies. He initially continued to suffer losses to scurvy but soon turned his ship towards 27° south, conceding defeat in his quest for Davis Land and setting course for Peru after consulting with his officers.

Ranginui died of scurvy on March 24 as the ship approached the Juan Fernández Islands. Surville left him behind with three crew members after a capsizing and drowning. The surviving crew sailed to Callao, where the Spanish authorities impounded their ship, Saint Jean-Baptiste, detaining its remaining crew for two years before allowing them to return home.

The expedition was not commercially successful but provided valuable information about the Pacific Islands and their inhabitants. Surville’s voyage confirmed the size of the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, disproved the existence of Terra Australis, and added knowledge of New Zealand. A street in his hometown is named after him, and he is remembered through several place names, including the Surville Cliffs, Cap Surville, and a plaque commemorating his visit to New Zealand.

Surville’s legacy lives on, a testament to the spirit of exploration and the enduring human connection with the unknown. His journey through the Pacific not only expanded geographical knowledge but also bridged cultures in ways that continue to inspire us today.