CHARLES ALEXANDRE LESUEUR. 



1778-1846. 



AMONG the early naturalists in America, not the least de- 

 serving of commemoration was the artist, traveller, and nat- 

 uralist who was " the first to study the ichthyology of the 

 Great American Lakes." He travelled widely in Pennsylvania, 

 New York, and New England from 1817 to 1828. He had won 

 a high reputation in France as an artist. As a naturalist he 

 had voyaged for over three years with Peron. He was a care- 

 ful and faithful observer, and, according to accounts, a man of 

 most genial and attractive character. 



Charles Alexandre Lesueur was born at Havre-de-Grace, 

 France, on New Year's Day of 1778. His father, Jean Baptiste 

 Denis Lesueur, who was an officer of the admiralty, bestowed 

 upon his son such education as his limited means allowed, there 

 being several other children that equally claimed his paternal 

 care. In French schools the elements of drawing were even 

 then taught, and young Charles early developed a strong bent 

 toward this art. At the end of his school days the productions 

 of his pencil displayed the skill and finish of a master. 



Toward the close of the eighteenth century the Institute of 

 France conceived a project for a government expedition of dis- 

 covery and scientific observation in the southern parts of the 

 Eastern hemisphere. The idea found favour with Bonaparte, 

 who was then First Consul, and was duly carried out. Two 

 corvettes, named Le Gfrgraphe and Le Naturaliste, were equipped 

 in the port of Havre, officers and crews were carefully selected 

 from the best material in the navy, and a scientific corps of 

 twenty-three members was organized. This body comprised 

 four astronomers and hydrographers, three botanists, five 

 zoloogists, two mineralogists, four artists, and five gardeners. 

 There was great competition for places in both the naval and 

 the scientific departments of the expedition. It had been in- 



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