A sailor from Lorient by the name of Joséph Tréguier appears on no less than thirteen rôles of the French East India Company. Born around 1740, he worked on ships from about the age of ten to 45, gradually earning higher wages as he grew more experienced. He travelled as far afield as West Africa, Bengal and Canton. He was shipwrecked in India, spent several years living in Pondichéry, and once missed his boat so he snuck furtively onto a vessel heading in the same direction, and managed to catch up to his ship (and his paycheque) at a harbour on Madagascar.

His story contains numerous interesting chapters, and offers much insight into the experiences, travails and opportunities of career sailors in the first age of global trade.

Follow his story via the links below.