Biography of Admirial Francois Jospeh Paul de Grasse

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Portrait of Comte de Grasse

François-Joseph-Paul, count de Grasse, (born September 13, 1722, Le Bar, France—died January 11, 1788, Paris), French naval commander who engaged British forces during the American Revolution (1775–83).


According to Encyclopaedia Britannica (2015), "De Grasse took service in 1734 on the galleys of the Knights of Malta, and in 1740 he entered the French service. Shortly after France and America joined forces in the Revolutionary War, he was assigned to America as commander of a squadron. In 1779–80 he fought the English off the West Indies. In 1781 he was promoted to the rank of admiral and was successful in defeating Admiral Samuel Hood and in taking Tobago. When American commander George Washington and the French general the Comte de Rochambeau determined to march to Virginia to join forces with the marquis de Lafayette’s army against the British commander Lord Cornwallis, Washington requested the cooperation of de Grasse’s fleet. De Grasse therefore sailed from the West Indies to the Chesapeake River, where he was joined by a fleet under the Comte de Barras. A British force under Admiral Thomas Graves attempted to prevent this juncture by engaging de Grasse’s fleet when it arrived at the Chesapeake Bay but was unsuccessful. French naval supremacy in the waters off Yorktown was instrumental in the success of the siege of that city."

On 5 November, 1781, De Grasse sailed from the Chesapeake, arriving at Martinique on the 25th. In January, 1782, he captured the Island of St. Kitts. On 8 April, 1782, the fleet commanded by De Grasse was confronted by Admiral Rodney off the coast of Martinique, with no advantage gained by either. On 12 April, however, the greatest naval battle of the century (known as the Battle of the Saints, due to occurring adjacent to the islands of Les Saintes) was fought. Both fleets engaged in frantic action, which lasted from dawn until after 6 P. M., when De Grasse's flagship, the "Ville de Paris", withdrew her colours after an intense but hopeless defence; the other ships of the fleet, excluding the captured vessels, dispersed and fled for safety.

After the surrender, De Grasse was arrested by Admiral Rodney and taken to Jamaica. From there, he was transported to England as a prisoner where he was given very generous treatment. De Grasse accepted the flattering which angered France thus resulting in accusations from his compatriots. While a prisoner on parole in London he published a defence of his conduct of the battle, and accused his captains of disobedience, blaming them for his defeat. In 1783, after a peace treaty was signed, he returned to France. . On his return to France, de Grasse published Mémoire du Comte de Grasse (1782; “Memoir of the Count of Grasse”) A court martial was ordered (1784), which vindicated every one whom De Grasse had attacked. This decision brought great dissatisfaction to De Grasse so he protested it in court to no avail. The minister of marine, in acknowledging the receipt of his protest, replied in the name of the king: "His Majesty, dissatisfied with your conduct in this respect, forbids you to present yourself before him". De Grasse retired after being viewed with disapproval by the King. Four years later he died, 11 January, 1788. (“Francois-Joseph-Paul, count de Grasse | biography - French naval commander | Encyclopaedia Britannica,” 2015)

 

 

Biography of Admirial Francois Jospeh Paul de Grasse