Alexandre de Thy facts for kids
Alexandre de Thy was a French Navy officer who served during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of American Independence. This was a big conflict where the American colonies fought for their freedom from Great Britain.
Alexandre de Thy was born into a noble family in France. He was a cousin of another important naval figure, Nicolas-Christiern de Thy de Milly.
Thy began his career in the French Navy at a young age. He joined as a Garde-Marine on January 8, 1751. A Garde-Marine was like a naval cadet, training to become an officer. He quickly moved up the ranks, becoming an ensign in 1755 and a lieutenant on October 1, 1764. He spent a lot of his time serving in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
He was later honored for his service and became a Knight in the Order of Saint Louis, a special award for French military officers.
Commander in the American Revolutionary War
On March 13, 1779, Alexandre de Thy was promoted to captain. This was a very important role. He took command of a large warship called the Citoyen. This ship was a 74-gun vessel, meaning it had 74 cannons and was a powerful ship of the line.
Captain de Thy and his ship were part of a squadron led by Admiral De Grasse. They played a role in the Battle of the Saintes, a major naval battle during the American Revolutionary War. During this intense battle, Captain de Thy was wounded. After the battle, there was an investigation, but he was cleared of any blame for the outcome.
Later Career
On May 1, 1786, Thy received another promotion, becoming a Chef de Division. This rank was a senior command position in the French Navy. He continued to serve and contribute his knowledge to naval strategy.
