Labat, Jean Baptiste

Labat, Jean Baptiste (zhäN bätēst' läbä') [key], 1663–1738, French Dominican missionary. Sent to the West Indies, he explored the islands, founded (1703) the city of Basse-Terre, and defended Guadeloupe against the English. Labat did valuable botanical research and wrote extensively about his travels.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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