Jean Baptiste Lucien Baudens (1804-1857) was a French military surgeon. He served in numerous military conflicts throughout his career. Baudens was an innovator and a leader. Going against traditional dogma, he was the first to attempt laparotomy in the setting of trauma. Although the first patient died, his second survived without further complication. Despite this historical landmark, little is known or written about him within the English literature. Jean Baptiste Lucien Baudens was a pioneer of surgery and the father of trauma laparotomy. He was a passionate educator and dedicated to the training of future surgeons. His contributions to the field of surgery deserve recognition and appreciation.
Keywords: Baudens; Surgery; history; laparotomy.