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Fernand Grenard

1866 – 1945

French diplomat and explorer

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About Fernand Grenard

Lived 1866 – 1945 (aged 78). Fernand Grenard was a French explorer, diplomat, writer, ambassador and geographer.

Joseph-Fernand Grenard (4 July 1866 – 1 April 1945) was a French explorer, author, and diplomat. He took part in the French government-sponsored expedition led by Jules-Léon Dutreuil de Rhins in 1891 to Eastern Turkestan (now Xinjiang) which sought to visit Lhasa, which at that time foreigners were not allowed to visit.

In 1893, Dutreuil de Rhins and Grenard, left Xinjiang in order to cross Tibet and reach Xining in Qinghai. In December, they reached Lake Namtso, the men and animals exhausted and their supplies run out after a journey that had taken them three months longer than anticipated. The authorities refused them permission to enter Lhasa and ordered them to turn back, in spite of the bitter cold and lack of supplies.

The following summer, Dutreuil de Rhins was wounded in a skirmish with a group of Golok bandits in lawless country near Tom-Boumdo (province of Qinghai). Grenard tried to save him but in the end was forced to leave him to his death. All the expedition's papers were stolen but eventually Grenard persuaded the Chinese authorities to take action against the criminals and the papers were recovered. "Baber" "Baber, first of the Moguls", tr. and adap. H. White & R. (Glaenzer, 1971, Natraj Publishers, Dehra Dun; republished 2005, Kessinger Publishing, LLC) , "Gengis-Khan" "Grandeur et décadence de l'Asie" "La Révolution Russe", Colin, Paris (1933) "Tibet"

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
École Libre des Sciences Politiques, École nationale des langues orientales vivantes
Awards
Prix de Joest; Prix Thérouanne; Alfred Née Award; Officer of the Legion of Honour; Knight of the Legion of Honour
Also known as
Joseph-Fernand Grenard

People in Fernand Grenard's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Fernand Grenard's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Fernand Grenard?

French diplomat and explorer (1866-1945)

When was Fernand Grenard born?

Fernand Grenard was born on 4 July 1866 in 15th arrondissement of Paris.

When did Fernand Grenard die?

Fernand Grenard died on 1 April 1945 in Saint-Mandé.

What was Fernand Grenard's occupation?

Fernand Grenard was an explorer, diplomat, writer, ambassador and geographer.

What nationality was Fernand Grenard?

Fernand Grenard was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Fernand Grenard

· Wikidata: Q5444512

· DBpedia: Fernand Grenard

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Fernand Grenard. https://biography.guide/fernand-grenard/

MLA: "Fernand Grenard." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/fernand-grenard/.

Chicago: "Fernand Grenard." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/fernand-grenard/.

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