First circumnavigation (female)

The first woman to circle the globe was Jeanne Baret (aka Baré or Barret), who travelled incognito as Philibert Commerçon's valet aboard the storeship Étoile, which accompanied the frigate La Boudeuse on its circumnavigation.

Jeanne Baret was a French housekeeper – and mistress – of the naturalist Philibert Commerçon. The pair accompanied the explorer Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville, on his round-the-world scientific expedition in 1766–69. Baret disguised herself as a man, travelling incognito as a valet. Baret's identity was finally revealed, and the couple later left the expedition in Mauritius to carry out botanical research. After Commerçon's death in 1773, Baret married a French officer and returned to France in around 1775, completing her round-the-world adventure.

Women were not allowed on Navy ships at this time. Because of Commerçon's scientific research needs, he enjoyed the privacy of his own cabin, meaning that his "newly acquired valet" Baret could avoid using the ship's shared head. The exact details of how her true identity was unmasked are unclear, but expedition leader Bougainville did not take any action when he discovered the truth, despite the illegality of the situation, and the couple left the ship of their own accord.

During the expedition, Baret contributed to many significant botanical discoveries, including the bougainvillea, the colourful plant named in honour of the expedition's leader.