Gaspard Theodore Mollien

Gaspard Theodore Mollien , born on August 29th, 1796 with Paris and deceased on June 28th, 1872 with Nice, is a French explorer and diplomat.

Biography

Born from a family originating in Calais, Mollien is impassioned for the adventures of Robinson Crusoé in its childhood.

After being returned in the Navy, it embarks on June 17th, 1816 for Senegal. At the time of this crossing, he escapes from the shipwreck of the Jellyfish . Its account of the catastrophe will be published in 1889. It fails finally on the island of Gorée, where it learns the African languages.

In 1817, it then explores the Presqu'île of Cape Verde, goes up the river Senegal and meets the Peuls. It goes back there in 1818, charged by the governor with the colony to go to recognize the sources of Senegal, the Gambia and the Niger, at the time of a one year tour. Its return in France is triumphal and it receives the Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1919.

Operations manager for the French administration, Mollien starts a new stay in Colombia, of 1822 to 1823, then with Haiti of 1824 to 1831, as Consul, then General consul with Port-au-Prince. Lastly, of 1831 to 1848, he exerts as General consul with Havana (Cuba).

Publications

Voyage in the interior of Africa, with the sources of Senegal and of Gambia , widowed printing works Courcier, Paris, 1820,2 volumes.
Voyage in the Republic of Colombia in 1823 , A. Bertrand, Paris, 1824
History of Haiti or Santo Domingo. Statistics and manners , 1831, réed. 2001

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