François Depons

François Raymond Joseph Depons, sometimes abbreviated as F.J. Depons (1751–1812) was a French government official and author who is most known for his documents and books regarding his travels in South America and the Caribbean.

Born in Soustons, However, by 1801, due to the ongoing revolt on the island he moved to Caracas in Venezuela, where he worked as a diplomat and political correspondent. It was in Venezuela where he wrote his most known work entitled, ‘A voyage to the eastern part of Terra Firma, or the Spanish Main, in South-America, during the years 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804. Containing a description of the territory under the jurisdiction of the captain general of Caraccas, composed of the provinces of Venezuela, Maracaibo, Varinas, Spanish Guiana, Cumana, and the island of Margaretta; and embracing every thing relative to the discovery, conquest, topography, legislation, commerce, finance, inhabitants and productions of the provinces, together with a view of the manners and customs of the Spaniards, and the savage as well as civilized Indians.’ (Originally in French). Depons included maps of Caracas and the ports surrounding the city created by various Cartographers such as Jean-Baptiste Poirson, and Pierre Antoine Tardieu. Depons and another French settler and author called Jean-François Dauxion-Lavaysse noted that the French immigrants to Paria were the “true founders of the town of Güiria”, Güiria being a town with heavy French influence during the time.

In 1807 he produced another book called ‘Perspective on the political and commercial relations of France in the two Indies, under the reigning dynasty.’

Depons spent the rest of his life in France and died in Paris in 1812.

Works