THIBAUDIN, Gaston Louis (tee-bo-dang), French explorer, born in Dunkirk in 1727; died in Lima, Peru, in 1796. He studied botany in Paris undex Buffon, was employed afterward by the Academy of sciences, and at; the request of that body was given by Louis XVI. in 1776 a mission to South America. His instructions were to collect in Chili, Peru, and Cuba specimens of medicinal plants that could be naturalized in France. He landed in Concepcion early in February, 1777, journeyed for months through the pampas and the mountains, and formed a rich herbarium. After visiting Santiago and the large cities, he went to Callao, making also a voyage to the island of Juan Fernandez. Toward the end of 1780 his herbarium numbered about 1,500 specimens, including many new ones, when he left for the West Indies, but, owing to the war that then raged in the Gulf of Mexico between France and England, he remained at Carthagena occupied in arranging his collections till the truce of 1782. Then he resumed his voyage and went to Havana, where he formed a nearly complete collection of the flora of the island. On his return to France in 1785 he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of sciences, and that body undertook also the publication of his works. He had made many friends in Peru, and, feeling insecure in Paris during the revolution, he returned in 1792 to Lima, where he taught mathematics till his death. Thibaudin's works include " Description des plantes recueillir dans un voyage au Perou et au Chili" (2 vols., Paris, 1786)" " Memoire sur la flore de File de Cuba" (1786); " Prodome de la flore du Chili avee herbier explicatif" (4 vols, 1788)" and " Prodome de la flore du Perou avec herbier explicatif ". (4 vols., 1790).