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François Édouard Raynal

1830 – 1898

French sailor, castaway, and writer

Sailor Writer Seafarer
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About François Édouard Raynal

Lived 1830 – 1898 (aged 67). François Édouard Raynal was a French sailor, writer and seafarer.

François Édouard Raynal (8 July 1830 – 28 April 1898) was a French sailor best known for his involvement in the Grafton shipwreck at the Auckland Islands. He wrote a popular account of the voyage, Les Naufragés, ou Vingt mois sur un récif des îles Auckland which was translated into English as Wrecked on a Reef.

The 2003 English edition of Wrecked On A Reef (1869) has additional appendices by French scholar Christiane Mortelier who presents a case for the influence of Raynal's book on Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island. Wrecked On A Reef was very popular at the time of publication, being translated into multiple languages. According to Mortelier, Verne read Raynal's account and loosely based his novel on the true life story of shipwreck, survival, privation, and ultimate rescue.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Montyon Prize
Also known as
Édouard Raynal

People in François Édouard Raynal's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped François Édouard Raynal's

Frequently asked questions

Who was François Édouard Raynal?

French sailor, castaway, and writer

When was François Édouard Raynal born?

François Édouard Raynal was born on 8 July 1830 in Moissac.

When did François Édouard Raynal die?

François Édouard Raynal died on 28 April 1898 in Valence.

What was François Édouard Raynal's occupation?

François Édouard Raynal was a sailor, writer and seafarer.

What nationality was François Édouard Raynal?

François Édouard Raynal was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: François Édouard Raynal

· Wikidata: Q3086366

· DBpedia: François Édouard Raynal

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). François Édouard Raynal. https://biography.guide/francois-edouard-raynal/

MLA: "François Édouard Raynal." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/francois-edouard-raynal/.

Chicago: "François Édouard Raynal." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/francois-edouard-raynal/.

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