Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse

Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, often called simply Lapérouse, was a French naval officer and explorer. Having enlisted at the age of 15, he had a successful naval career and in 1785 was appointed to lead a scientific expedition around the world. His ships stopped in Chile, Hawaii, Alaska, California, Mauritius, Reunion, Macau, Japan, Russia and Australia before wrecking on the reefs of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands.

23 August 1741

Born on the same birth day (23 August): Abraham Yates Jr. • Andreas Floer • August 23 • August Ames • Barbara Eden • Cameron Norrie • Edwyn Collins • Fiona Onasanya • John Cockburn (Australian politician) • Keith Moon • Lawrence Frank • Nelson DeMille • Skipp Sudduth • Sonny Jurgensen • Vera Miles

Born in the same month (August 1741): Jean-Paul-Égide Martini • Karl Friedrich Bahrdt