Eugène Duflot de Mofras (born 5 July 1810, Toulouse, France—30 January 1884, Paris) was a 19th-century French naturalist, botanist, diplomat, and explorer.
In 1839 Duflot de Mofras was dispatched from his French legation post in Mexico City to explore the Pacific Coast of North America from 1840 to 1842, to access the Mexican Alta California and American Oregon Territory regions for French business interests.
[1][2][3] While stationed at Yerba Buena (present day San Francisco), he traveled inland to see the Rancho New Helvetia agricultural colony of John Sutter.
[2] The report of Duflot de Mofras was significant at the time, and remains a detailed description of aspects of the northern Pacific Coast before American dominance.
[2][4] His account was published in 1844 as the 2-volume work Exploration du territoire de l'Orégon, des Californies et de la mer Vermeille, exécutée pendant les années 1840, 1841 et 1842 (Exploring the Oregon Territory, California and the Pacific Coast), by the Arthus Bertrand press in Paris.