Labat, Jean Baptiste

Labat, Jean BaptistezhäN bätēstˈ läbäˈ[key], 1663–1738, French Dominican missionary. Sent to the West Indies, he explored the islands, he was largely responsible for the permanent establishment of the town ofBasse-Terre, and defended Guadeloupe against the English. Labat did valuable botanical research and wrote extensively about his travels.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia,6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on:Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches: General Biographies