Know everything about the first woman to circumnavigate the globe

More than a century before air travel made global journeys possible, a remarkable woman achieved what few people of any gender had done, she sailed around the world. Jeanne Baret, a French explorer and botanist, made history in the 18th century, though she had to disguise herself as a man to do it. (wikimedia commons)

She Was Born Into Humble Circumstances: Born in 1740 in rural France, Jeanne Baret had little formal education. Despite this, she developed an impressive knowledge of plants and herbal medicine, skills that would later shape her extraordinary journey. (wikimedia commons)

She Joined a Historic Expedition: Baret became the assistant and partner of botanist Philibert Commerson, who was invited to join the first French expedition to circumnavigate the globe, led by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1766. (wikimedia commons)

She Disguised Herself as a Man: French naval rules prohibited women from serving aboard military ships. Determined to join the voyage, Baret disguised herself as a man and signed on under the name "Jean Baret," becoming part of the expedition's scientific team. (wikimedia commons)

Her Identity Was Eventually Discovered: Although she successfully concealed her identity for a time, Baret was eventually recognized as a woman during the expedition. Accounts differ on exactly when and how this happened, but her secret could not remain hidden forever. (wikimedia commons)

She Collected Thousands of Plant Specimens: During the voyage, Baret and Commerson gathered thousands of plant samples from around the world. Their collections greatly expanded European knowledge of global flora and contributed significantly to botanical science. (wikimedia commons)

She Became the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe: After leaving the expedition and spending several years abroad, Baret eventually returned to France in 1775. By completing the journey, she became the first woman known to have circumnavigated the globe, a feat that was officially recognized long after her remarkable adventure ended. (amazon.in)