André-Marie de Gouzillon de Bélizal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
André-Marie de Gouzillon de Bélizal
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| Born | 12 May 1741  Brest |
| Died | 14 July 1795 (aged 54) Quiberon |
| Occupation | Officer of the French Navy |
André-Marie de Gouzillon de Bélizal was a French Navy officer born in Brest on May 12, 1741. He passed away in Quiberon on July 14, 1795. He was an important figure who served in the War of American Independence.
Contents
André-Marie de Gouzillon de Bélizal came from a noble family. His grandfather was La Jaille. He also had two brothers, Charles and Jean-Michel-Guillaume, who both joined the Navy.
Bélizal began his naval career at a young age. He joined the French Navy in 1755 as a Garde-Marine. This rank was similar to a naval cadet, a young officer in training. He worked hard and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1772.
Serving in the Seven Years' War
Bélizal took part in the Seven Years' War. This was a major global conflict that involved many powerful countries. During his service in this war, he was wounded twice, showing his bravery in battle.
Command of the Curieuse
In 1777, Bélizal was given command of the Curieuse. This was a small warship called a corvette, equipped with 10 guns. He served with the Squadron of Brest, which was a group of warships, under the command of Du Chaffault.
The American Revolutionary War
Bélizal played a role in the American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of American Independence. This was a conflict where the American colonies fought for their freedom from Great Britain. France supported the American side.
Capture of the Licorne
In June 1778, Bélizal became the captain of the frigate Licorne. A frigate was a type of warship, and the Licorne had 32 guns. His ship was part of a group led by La Clocheterie. This group also included the frigate Belle Poule and two smaller ships, the Hirondelle and the Coureur.
This French group of ships was spotted by a British squadron. To try and escape, the French ships separated. While the Belle Poule managed to get away after a fight, the Licorne was surrounded by three large British warships. Bélizal bravely fired his ship's guns in a final show of defense before being forced to surrender.
Bélizal was taken prisoner to Alverstoke. He was held for 19 months. He argued that he shouldn't be considered a prisoner of war because war had not been officially declared when his ship was captured.
Return to Service and Shipwreck
After his release, Bélizal was promoted to Captain on May 9, 1781. He was then given command of another frigate, the Vénus. On June 16, he successfully captured a British privateer called the Lord Amherst. A privateer was a private ship authorized by a government to attack enemy shipping.
However, his time with the Vénus was short. On August 5, 1781, the Vénus was wrecked near the Glénan Islands.
Later Commands
From June 10, 1782, Bélizal served on the Bretagne, a very large warship with 110 guns. Later, in 1786, he captained the 32-gun frigate Cérès.
On November 2, 1786, he received another promotion to Chef de Division. This meant he was in charge of a group of ships, specifically the 2nd Division of the 2nd Squadron of the Navy. From August 1790 to 1791, he commanded the 74-gun ship Jupiter. On January 7, 1791, Bélizal was put in charge of the important port of Brest.
French Revolution and Final Battle
When the French Revolution began, many people who supported the old system, like nobles and royalists, left France. Bélizal became an émigré, meaning he fled the country on January 10, 1792.
He first went to England. Then, he joined the Armée des Princes, which was an army made up of French nobles and others who wanted to restore the monarchy. He traveled to Brussels, returned to England, and eventually took part in the Battle of Quiberon in 1795. This was an attempt by royalist forces to invade France. Sadly, André-Marie de Gouzillon de Bélizal was killed during this battle.
Legacy
Bélizal's personal writings, including his journal and letters, were published in 1902. They were called Journal et Letres d'un émigré and appeared in the Revue de Bretagne. These writings were published by one of his descendants, giving us a glimpse into his life and experiences.
