Alexis Marie de Rochon, known Abbé Rochon was born in Brest in 1741.
Abbé Rochon studied theology in France and became an ecclesiast. He was also a passionate astronomer, physicist and traveller who joined the Royal Marine Academy as well as the Academie des Sciences.
In 1766, Abbé Rochon was appointed Marine Astronomist. He joined Captain de Kerguelen on an expedition to map the latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere.
In 1768, Abbé Rochon disembark at Port Louis, and becomes acquainted to Pierre Poivre; the Intendant of the Island as well as owner of the estate of Mon Plaisir and mastermind in the creation of a botanical garden on Isle de France.
In the same year, Abbé Rochon left for Madagascar and returned a few months later with 80 plants species that would be introduced at Mon Plaisir. Amongst the plant species are the Filao Casuarina equisetifolia, the sagoo tree Cycas circinalis and the Malagasy Plumtree Aframonum angustifolium.