Jean Jacques Audubon (1785 - 1851)

Born 26 Apr 1785 in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue

Ancestors

Husband of Lucy (Bakewell) Audubon — married 5 Apr 1808 in Fatland Ford, Audubon, Lower Providence Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 27 Jan 1851 at age 65 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States

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Biography

John James Audubon is Notable.

American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He is notable for his extensive studies of American birds and his detailed illustrations in their natural habitats.

Jean-Jacques Audubon born Jean Rabin is born April 26, 1785 in Les Cayes in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) on his father's sugar plantation. He is the illegitimate son of Lieutenant Jean Audubon, a French naval officer from the south of Brittany, and his mistress Jeanne Rabine, a 27-year-old chambermaid from Les Touches in the same Province of Brittany (now in the modern region Pays de la Loire). They named the boy Jean Rabin. His mother dies when he is a few months old.

He is raised in Couëron, near Nantes, France, by Audubon and his wife Anne Moynet Audubon. In 1794 they formally adopted him under the name Fougère Audubon (Fougère "Fern" corresponds to his birthday in the Republican calendar). His half sister, two years his junior and given the name "Muguet" was adopted along with him. ^[1] He is baptized: October 23, 1800 (1st Brumaire an II) in Saint Similien, Nantes, France.

To escape conscription into Napoleon's army and to enter America as a white freeman rather than a person of color, his father has a fake passport created in the name of "John James Audubon". In 1803, Audubon boards a ship for immigration to the United States using the false passport obtained by his father. ^[2]

In 1808 he married Lucy Blackwell, daughter of William Blackwell. Together they have the following children: Victor Gifford, John Woodhouse, Lucy, and Rose.

During a visit to Philadelphia in 1812 following Congress' declaration of war with Great Britain, Audubon becomes an American citizen and gave up his French citizenship.

His major work, a color-plate book entitled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon identifies 25 new species.

Audubon died at his family home on January 27, 1851 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States. ^[3] He is buried, close to the location of his home, in Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum in Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York, United States. ^[4] There is an imposing monument in his honor at the cemetery, which is the center of the Heritage Rose District of NYC. ^[4]

Research Notes

Birth name is: JEAN RABIN, which he hated, but was obliged to use throughout his life as noted by Kentucky documents and his father and step-mother's Wills which list him as "Jean Rabin créole de Saint-Domingue".

Listed among the former colons of Saint-Domingue (likely as heir to father's lost plantation?). ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Acte d'adoption: Naissances Nantes (section La Halle et Jean-Jacques Rousseau) an II, Archives de Nantes cote 1E40 vues 28-29.
2. ↑ United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 John James Audubon, 1830; citing Passport Application, source certificate #2011, Originals and Copies of Passports, 1794 - 1901.
3. ↑ New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 John James Audubon, 27 Jan 1851; citing Death, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #6102721 page for John James Audubon (26 Apr 1785–27 Jan 1851), Find a Grave Memorial no. 6102721, citing Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum, Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA.
5. ↑ "Colons de Saint-Domingue (sans propriété foncière) (1789); Héritiers des anciens propriétaires (1826-1833)," "A," #558, Jean-Jacques (John James) Audubon

See also:

• The Britannica Guide to The 100 Most Influential Scientists (2007), pp. 157-159.
• John James Audubon on Wikipedia
• Wikidata: Item Q182882, en:Wikipedia
• Audubon the Naturalist: A History of His Life and Time, 1917, Francis Hobart Herrick, Volume I
• Encylopedia of Exploration 1800-1850, Howgego
• Geneanet.org, "Jean Jacques Alias John James AUDUBON" (accessed 27 Nov 2020)
• WorldCat Listing for John James Audubon, accessed 04 Apr 2021
• Google Doodle for Audubon's 226th birthday on April 26, 2011