Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne was a French explorer who is best known for his exploration of the southern coast of Australia in the late 18th century. He was born in 1724 in the town of Saint-Malo, France, and was the son of a wealthy merchant. He was educated in the local school and later joined the French Navy.
In 1763, du Fresne was sent to the French colony of Mauritius, where he served as a naval officer. During his time in Mauritius, he became interested in exploration and began to plan his own expedition. In 1771, he was granted permission to lead an expedition to the southern coast of Australia.
Du Fresne and his crew set sail from Mauritius in 1772, and arrived in Australia in 1773. He was the first European to explore the southern coast of Australia, and he named many of the places he visited. He also made contact with the local Aboriginal people, and was the first European to do so.
Du Fresne and his crew explored the coast of Australia for several months, and then sailed to New Zealand. They arrived in New Zealand in 1774, and explored the islands for several weeks. During this time, du Fresne and his crew encountered the Maori people, and were the first Europeans to do so.
Du Fresne and his crew then sailed back to Mauritius, arriving in 1775. He was praised for his exploration of the southern coast of Australia and New Zealand, and was awarded a medal by the French government.
Du Fresne then returned to France, where he wrote a book about his expedition. The book was published in 1776, and was a great success. It was translated into several languages, and was widely read throughout Europe.
Du Fresne died in 1788, at the age of 64. He is remembered as one of the most important explorers of the 18th century, and his legacy lives on in the many places he named during his expedition. His exploration of the southern coast of Australia and New Zealand was a major contribution to the knowledge of the region, and helped to open up the area to further exploration and settlement.