LE GOUZ DE LA BOULLAYE, François. Baugé, Anjou 1623 (or 1610?) — Isfahan 1668. French Traveller. Born in a family of English origin, he served in the French troops of Charles I. Back in France in 1644 he soon left via Constantinople to Persia, posing himself as Ibrāhīm Bey. He continued to India, was arrested for a while and returned 1649 to Basra, crossed the desert to Syria and sailed from Egypt to Leghorn (1650). The book attracted attention and in 1664 he became the ambassador of Louis XIV to Mughal court, but the details of this mission are missing (except one letter from Surat). Married 1662 Élisabeth Gaultier.
Publications: Les voyages et observations du sieur de La B. Le Gouz. P. 1653, 2nd ed. 1657, Dutch tr. 1660.
Sources: E. Borromeo, D.O.L.F. 584f. & French Wikipédia (with drawing, both with further ref.).
Last Updated on 4 months by Admin
