LAFOND DE LURCY, Gabriel, French explorer, born in Lurcy Levy, Allier, 25 March, 1802; died in Paris, 11 April, 1876. He studied in Moulins, entered the merchant marine in 1818, and four years later had command of a ship. For several years he traded with both Americas, but, after inheriting a large estate, he travelled more for pleasure than for mercantile purposes, visiting Chili, Brazil, and Central America in 1831-'6. In 1849 he became Costa Rican consul in Paris, and in the following year minister of the same republic, which post he held for twenty years. He was elected a member of the Geographical society of Paris in 1851, and corresponding member of the American geographical society in 1857. He published "Des Iles Marquises et des colonies de la France darts l'Amerique et l'Oceanie" (Paris, 1842) . "Voyages autour du monde et naufrages celebres" (8 vols., 1843)" "De l'emancipation de l'esclavage darts les colonies Francaises de l'Amerique" (1844) . "Etudes sur l'Amerique Espagnole" (1848); "Quinze ans de voyage autour du monde" (2 vols., 1849); and "Cartes de l'Amerique Central " (1853).