Louise Bourbonnaud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise Bourbonnaud
|
|
|---|---|
Engraving of Louise Bourbonnaud
|
|
| Born |
Louise Cosseron
c. 1847 Paris
|
| Died | 19 March 1915 Paris
|
| Burial place | Père Lachaise Cemetery |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Philanthropist, writer, explorer |
| Spouse(s) | Étienne Bourbonnaud |
Louise Cosseron Bourbonnaud (born around 1847 in Paris – died 1915) was a French writer, explorer, and someone who loved helping others. She used her wealth to support people in need. She also traveled all over the world, writing about her amazing adventures.
Contents
Her Life Story
Louise Cosseron married Étienne Bourbonnaud, a rich businessman from Paris. He helped build parts of the city, like Boulevard Barbès. He was also friends with important city planners like Baron Haussmann.
Louise and Étienne were philanthropists. This means they used their large fortune to help the poorest people in Paris. They were very brave. In 1871, during the Paris Commune uprisings, people tried to take their property. But the Bourbonnauds stood strong.
After Étienne passed away in 1875 when he was 48, Louise decided to keep helping others. She also followed her passion for travel. This allowed her to discover new places and write about the world and its people.
An Amazing Traveler
Louise was fearless, determined, and eager to learn. She traveled alone across the American continents. She explored North America in 1885. Then, she visited Central America and the Caribbean in 1886. Finally, she explored South America in 1887.
At each stop, she looked for everyday working people. She called them "the most humble people." She took many notes to publish when she returned to Paris.
In her travel books, she challenged old ideas about adventurous women. She wanted to show that women could be independent and brave. She wrote that she, a woman, wanted to prove that old ideas about women were wrong. She was young, had money, and was a widow. This meant she was free to act as she wished. So, she set out on her journey around the world.
In 1888, she visited many countries in Asia. These included India, Sri Lanka, Borneo, Sumatra, Vietnam, China, and Japan. In the years that followed, she took more trips. She traveled to Africa, Europe, and even returned to America. Along the way, she faced many tough situations. This included attacks by robbers and dishonest people.
Helping Others in Paris
Louise Bourbonnaud was a well-known person in Paris. She used her many important friends to gather support for those in need. She helped fund hospitals and a nursery. She focused especially on her own neighborhood, the 18th arrondissement.
She also played a big part in starting the Relief Society for the Wounded of the Land and Sea Armies. This group later became known as the French Red Cross.
The Exploration Prize
In 1891, Louise Bourbonnaud created the Louise Bourbonnaud Prize. She gave money for this prize to the Société de Géographie de Paris (Paris Geographical Society). The prize was meant to honor great French travelers. It was given out every year in her name.
- In 1892, the gold medal and prize money went to Henri Coudreau. He explored French Guiana for ten years, from 1881 to 1891.
- In 1895, the award went to Father Élie Colin for his work in Madagascar.
- In 1906, the prize was given to Mr. R. Avelot.
- Marie Anne de Bovet also received the award, but the exact date is not known.
Her Last Years
A special tea rose was named after her in 1892. It was called the “Louise-Bourbonnaud” rose. This was an honor given by Gilbert Nabonnand, who bred the rose.
Louise Bourbonnaud died on March 19, 1915, at the age of 68. She is buried next to her husband in the Père-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Her Published Works
Louise Bourbonnaud wrote about her adventures in three books:
- Les Amériques: Amérique du nord, les Antilles, Amérique du sud. (Americas: North America, West Indies, South America). Published in 1889.
- India and the Far East, travel impressions of a Parisian woman. Published in Paris in 1892.
- Alone across 145,000 land, sea and air leagues. Published in Paris.
