Paul Chevillard de Montesson (1748-1820), was an ensign on Marc-Joseph Marion Dufresne's expedition on board the 'Mascarin', which arrived in Tasmania in 1772. Paul Chevillard de Montesson was midshipman and secretary on board the ship. He was one of a small group of sailors that set ashore, reportedly the first Europeans to encounter the Aborigines of Van Diemen's Land. After a clash with the Tasmanian Aboriginals, the expedition travelled to the Bay of Fires in New Zealand, where Marc-Joseph Marion Dufresne attempted to remast his vessel. However on 12 June 1772, Maoris killed Marc-Joseph Marion Dufresne and twenty-four of his crew. Paul Chevillard de Montesson's manuscript in the Allport collection, details the scene in which Marion was warned that the Maori Chief Tacoury would kill him if he went ashore.