Jean François de Galaup (Comte) de la Pérouse was born in Albi, France on 22 August 1741 to a noble family. La Pérouse began naval college at a young age and became an accomplished navigator during his service in the Seven Years War. He went on to serve France in the American Revolutionary War, during which he led a ship to victory at the naval battle of Louisbourg and headed the successful Hudson Bay Expedition of 1782.

La Pérouse was chosen by King Louis XVI to lead an expedition to survey the north and south Pacific and Indian Ocean to study the climates, flora and fauna, and collect specimens. La Pérouse and his crew were seen for the last time on 10 March 1788, leaving Botany Bay, Australia. In 1826, European vestiges were found near the Solomon Islands, where it is believed La Pérouse’s ships L’Astrolabe and La Boussole fatally crashed into Vanikoro Island’s fringing reef.