Aime Bonpland (1773-1858), French botanist. Aime Jacques Alexandre Bonpland was born in Rochelle on 22 August 1773. He studied medicine in Paris, then served as a surgeon on a warship. From 1799-1804, he explored tropical South America with Alexander von Humboldt, collecting and describing 6000 new plant species. He was appointed Superintendent of the Empress Josephine's gardens at Malmaison soon after his return to Europe. When she died in 1814, he returned to South America. When exploring the Parana River, he was imprisoned for nine years in Paraguay, accused of spying. He later settled in Uruguay and died on 11 May 1858.