Louise Seguin

Louise Seguin (also known as Marie-Louise Seguin) was one of the first women 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][1] It has been suggested that she and Kerguelen were lovers, or that she was his mistress.[1] 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.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Howkins, Adrian; Roberts, Peder (2023-05-11). The Cambridge History of the Polar Regions. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-62795-5.
  2. ^ Chipman, Elizabeth (1986). Women on the Ice: A History of Women in the Far South. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 978-0-522-84324-8.
  3. ^ Croix, Robert de La (1998-05-22). Histoire secrète des océans (in French). Ancre de Marine Editions. ISBN 978-2-84141-120-7.
  4. ^ Hulbe, Christina L.; Wang, Weili; Ommanney, Simon (2010-12-01). "Women in glaciology, a historical perspective". Journal of Glaciology. 56 (200): 944–964. Bibcode:2010JGlac..56..944H. doi:10.3189/002214311796406202.
  5. ^ Martin, Stephen (2013-02-01). A History of Antarctica. Rosenberg Publishing. ISBN 9781922013729.
  6. ^ Roldan, Gabriela (December 2010). "Literature review: Changes in the contributions of Women in Antarctic National Programmes" (PDF). PCAS 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-07.