Why a French naturalist's stolen scientific collection was returned by his wartime enemies
In short: When British forces seized Jacques Labillardière’s botanical treasures during the French Revolutionary Wars, they held the spoils of three years of exploration. Yet, in a rare display of scientific diplomacy, the British government returned the entire collection, arguing that the advancement of knowledge transcended the hostilities of warring nations.
Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière was a French biologist born in 1755 who became a foundational figure in Australian botany. His career was defined by ambitious voyages, including an expedition to Oceania in 1791 to search for the lost ships of La Pérouse. During this journey, Labillardière and his colleagues meticulously documented the flora, fauna, and Indigenous customs of regions including Tasmania and south-west Australia. However, the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars led to the seizure of his extensive collections by the British when his ship reached Java.
The return of these specimens in 1796 was largely due to the lobbying of Sir Joseph Banks. Banks successfully argued that returning the collection to Labillardière would demonstrate the liberal character of Great Britain toward science. This act allowed Labillardière to publish his seminal work, 'Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen', between 1804 and 1807, which provided the first general description of Australian flora. Today, about fifty of the plant genera he established remain current, and his name is commemorated in numerous species, including the Tasmanian Pademelon.
Despite his scientific achievements, Labillardière’s reputation has faced scrutiny. Historians have noted anomalies in his data, particularly regarding the collection locations of his specimens, which led some botanists to doubt his reliability. Some experts, such as Edward Duyker, suggest these errors may have occurred while the collections were in foreign hands, rather than through Labillardière's own negligence. His personality was often described as sharp, austere, and stubborn, yet he was also recognized for his sincerity and generosity, leaving behind a complex legacy that continues to be re-evaluated by modern biographers.
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