Louise Seguin Explained

Louise Seguin (also known as Marie-Louise Seguin) was one of the first European woman to travel to the Antarctic region.^[1] Beginning at the age of around 14-16 (accounts vary), she disguised herself as a boy in order to travel on the 1772 - 1773 voyage of Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen.^[2] It has been suggested that and Kerguelen were lovers, or that she was his mistress. During the voyage she was often referred to by the nickname Louison.^[3] She explored the Kerguelen Islands with the crew of the Roland, and later her presence was used to discredit Kerguelen.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Eventually, it was discovered that Louise was a woman, and the situation was said to have contributed to his 1776 court-martial.

References

1. Book: Howkins . Adrian . The Cambridge History of the Polar Regions . Roberts . Peder . 2023-05-11 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-108-62795-5 . en.
2. Book: Chipman, Elizabeth . Women on the Ice: A History of Women in the Far South . 1986 . Melbourne University Press . 978-0-522-84324-8 . en.
3. Book: Croix, Robert de La . Histoire secrète des océans . 1998-05-22 . Ancre de Marine Editions . 978-2-84141-120-7 . fr.
4. Hulbe. Christina L.. Wang. Weili. Ommanney. Simon. 2010-12-01. Women in glaciology, a historical perspective. Journal of Glaciology. 56. 200. 944–964. 10.3189/002214311796406202. 2010JGlac..56..944H. free.
5. Book: Martin, Stephen. A History of Antarctica. 2013-02-01. Rosenberg Publishing. 9781922013729. en.
6. Web site: Literature review: Changes in the contributions of Women in Antarctic National Programmes. Roldan. Gabriela. December 2010. PCAS 13. 2017-04-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20170407135652/http://www.anta.canterbury.ac.nz/documents/PCAS_13/PCAS_13_Roldan_G_Review.pdf. dead.