Bon Chrétien de Briqueville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bon Chrétien de Briqueville
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| Born | 2 October 1726  |
| Died | 1 January 1803 (aged 76) |
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Bon Chrétien de Briqueville (born October 2, 1726, died January 1, 1803) was a brave officer in the French Navy. He was born in Bretteville, France, and passed away in Valognes. He played an important role in the American Revolutionary War, which helped America gain its independence. Because of his service, he became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He was also a key person in the Académie de Marine, which was a special academy for naval studies.
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Bon Chrétien de Briqueville had a long and distinguished career in the French Navy. He started his journey at a young age and rose through the ranks.
Bon Chrétien de Briqueville was born into a family with some naval connections. His parents were Madeleine de la Motte de Pont-Roger and Guillaume Antoine de Briqueville. He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine (a junior officer cadet) on November 2, 1743.
Early Service and Capture
Briqueville served on the 32-gun frigate Perle. He took part in the Duc d'Anville expedition to Acadia, which was a French attempt to recapture the region. Later, he served on the 64-gun ship Lys. During this time, he was captured by the British in June 1755. Luckily, he was released in January 1756.
Promotions and Leadership Roles
Briqueville quickly moved up in the Navy.
- He was promoted to Lieutenant on May 15, 1756.
- He helped supervise the building of two ships: the 12-gun corvette Levrette and the 22-gun frigate Guirlande.
- In 1763, he received the Order of Saint Louis, a special award for military officers.
- He became the Director of the Académie de Marine for the year 1771.
- On February 18, 1772, he was promoted to Captain.
- In 1773, he helped review the work of explorer Kerguelen after his expedition to the Kerguelen Islands.
Service in the American Revolutionary War
Briqueville played an important role in the American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of American Independence. France supported the American colonies against Great Britain.
Commanding Ships
- From 1775, he commanded the 32-gun frigate Légère. This ship was part of a squadron led by Guichen.
- In 1775, he also commanded the 18-gun corvette Hirondelle in a special training fleet.
- In 1778, he commanded the 64-gun ship Solitaire. He took part in the Battle of Ushant on July 27, 1778. This was a major naval battle between the French and British fleets.
- From 1779, Briqueville commanded the 74-gun ship Northumberland. This ship was part of the White squadron in the fleet led by De Grasse.
Key Battles
As captain of the Northumberland, Briqueville was involved in several crucial battles:
- The Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5, 1781. This battle was very important because it prevented the British Navy from helping their army at Yorktown.
- The Siege of Yorktown. This was the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War, where the American and French forces defeated the British.
- The invasion of Saint Kitts.
Return to France
Briqueville had to leave duty on February 19, 1782, due to health reasons. He returned to France on the 32-gun frigate Aigrette.
Later Career
After his service in the war, Briqueville continued to be recognized for his contributions:
- In 1782, he was promoted to Brigadier des armées navales (Brigadier of Naval Armies).
- On August 20, 1784, he was promoted to Chef d'Escadre (Squadron Commander).
Bon Chrétien de Briqueville's career shows his dedication and bravery as a French naval officer during a very important time in history.
