Story: European discovery of New Zealand

The death of Marion du Fresne

The death of Marion du Fresne

Marion du Fresne anchored his ships, Marquis de Castries and Mascarin, in the Bay of Islands from May to July 1772. Relations with Māori deteriorated and Marion du Fresne and others of his company were killed. In the 1840s Charles Meryon, a French artist who came to New Zealand, produced this drawing of the killing.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: G-824-3
Pencil and crayon drawing by Charles Meryon

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'European discovery of New Zealand - French explorers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/1438/the-death-of-marion-du-fresne (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by John Wilson, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 May 2016