A French Franciscan Conventual priest, naturalist and astronomer who sailed with Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, Friar Laurent Receveur was also considered as a skilled botanist, geologist, chemist, meteorologist, and philologist.
Appointed by King Louis XVI and his minister of marine, the Marquis de Castries, to lead an expedition around the world, the party came into conflict with the indigenous people of Tutuila in the Samoan Islands, Receveur was gravely injured, receiving what was described as a "violent contusion of the eye".
Succumbing to his injuries while recovered in a camp erected at Botany Bay, he became the first Catholic priest and the second non-indigenous person to be buried in Australia. His obsequies are considered to have constituted the first Catholic religious ceremony held in Australia. Thus to this day, the churches of La Perouse in Sydney hold a special memorial mass in February each year to recognise the historical religious significance of Receveur's arrival, death and burial in Australia.
Appointed by King Louis XVI and his minister of marine, the Marquis de Castries, to lead an expedition around the world, the party came into conflict with the indigenous people of Tutuila in the Samoan Islands, Receveur was gravely injured, receiving what was described as a "violent contusion of the eye".
Succumbing to his injuries while recovered in a camp erected at Botany Bay, he became the first Catholic priest and the second non-indigenous person to be buried in Australia. His obsequies are considered to have constituted the first Catholic religious ceremony held in Australia. Thus to this day, the churches of La Perouse in Sydney hold a special memorial mass in February each year to recognise the historical religious significance of Receveur's arrival, death and burial in Australia.
A French Franciscan Conventual priest, naturalist and astronomer who sailed with Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, Friar Laurent Receveur was also considered as a skilled botanist, geologist, chemist, meteorologist, and philologist.
Appointed by King Louis XVI and his minister of marine, the Marquis de Castries, to lead an expedition around the world, the party came into conflict with the indigenous people of Tutuila in the Samoan Islands, Receveur was gravely injured, receiving what was described as a "violent contusion of the eye".
Succumbing to his injuries while recovered in a camp erected at Botany Bay, he became the first Catholic priest and the second non-indigenous person to be buried in Australia. His obsequies are considered to have constituted the first Catholic religious ceremony held in Australia. Thus to this day, the churches of La Perouse in Sydney hold a special memorial mass in February each year to recognise the historical religious significance of Receveur's arrival, death and burial in Australia.
Appointed by King Louis XVI and his minister of marine, the Marquis de Castries, to lead an expedition around the world, the party came into conflict with the indigenous people of Tutuila in the Samoan Islands, Receveur was gravely injured, receiving what was described as a "violent contusion of the eye".
Succumbing to his injuries while recovered in a camp erected at Botany Bay, he became the first Catholic priest and the second non-indigenous person to be buried in Australia. His obsequies are considered to have constituted the first Catholic religious ceremony held in Australia. Thus to this day, the churches of La Perouse in Sydney hold a special memorial mass in February each year to recognise the historical religious significance of Receveur's arrival, death and burial in Australia.
Inscription
HIC JACET
L. RECEVEUR
EX F. F. MINORIBUS GALLIA SACERDOS
PHYSICUS IN CIRCUMNAVIGATIONE MUNDI
DUCE D. DE LA PEYROUSE.
OBIIT DIE 17th FEBR. ANNO 1788.
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