Jeanne Baret

Jeanne Baret was not just a woman of science; she was a woman of stealth. Born in 1740, she managed to convince everyone she was "Jean Baret," accompanying botanist Philibert Commerson on Louis Antoine de Bougainville's expedition around the world. One wonders what sort of elaborate costume, or perhaps just a very convincing mustache, she employed to keep up the charade for two years aboard a ship full of sailors.

Her dedication to botany was clearly unparalleled, as she collected specimens and assisted Commerson through thick and thin, scurvy, and presumably, awkward social encounters. The deception was eventually discovered, possibly due to a routine medical examination or, as some accounts suggest, after some keen-eyed Tahitian islanders pointed out the obvious. One can only imagine the captain's exasperated sigh.

Despite the eventual unmasking, Baret completed her journey, albeit on a different ship, making her the indisputable first woman to circumnavigate the Earth. Her bravery and scientific contributions are undeniable, proving that sometimes, to achieve greatness, one just needs a good disguise and an even better reason to sail the high seas. Also, probably a good poker face.

So, was Jeanne Baret a Jew? As French Catholics go, she was probably as Jew-ish as a baguette on a Friday night, which is to say, not at all. But her sheer audacity and the scientific "nachas" she delivered certainly earn her high marks in the K-department.