French ship Fougueux (1785) facts for kids
Scale model of Achille, sister ship of French ship Fougueux (1785), on display at the Musée national de la Marine in Paris.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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   France |
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| Name | Fougueux |
| Namesake | "Impetuous" |
| Builder | Lorient shipyard |
| Laid down | 1784 |
| Launched | 19 September 1785 |
| Fate | Wrecked 22 October 1805 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Téméraire-class ship of the line |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 55.87 metres (183 ft 4 in) (172 pied) |
| Beam | 14.90 metres (48 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 7.26 metres (23 ft 10 in) (22 pied) |
| Propulsion | Up to 2,485 m2 (26,750 sq ft) of sails |
| Armament |
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| Armour | Timber |
The Fougueux was a powerful French warship. It was a 74-gun ship of the line, built in Lorient, France, between 1784 and 1785. A ship of the line was a large warship that fought in a line formation during naval battles. The name Fougueux means "Impetuous" or "Fiery" in French.
Contents
Life of the Fougueux
The Fougueux had an active but short life. It was involved in important naval events during its time.
Early Missions
In 1796, the Fougueux took part in the Expédition d'Irlande. This was a French attempt to invade Ireland. The ship sailed under the command of Esprit-Tranquille Maistral.
Battle of Trafalgar
The Fougueux is most famous for its role in the Battle of Trafalgar. This huge naval battle happened on October 21, 1805. It was a major fight between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of France and Spain.
First Shot Fired
The Fougueux actually fired the very first shot of the battle. It aimed at the British ship HMS Royal Sovereign. This marked the start of one of history's most important sea battles.
Fighting the Temeraire
Later in the battle, the Fougueux tried to help another French ship, the Redoutable. It began fighting the British ship HMS Temeraire. The Temeraire fired many powerful shots at the Fougueux, causing a lot of damage.
Boarding and Capture
After damaging the Fougueux, the British launched a boarding party. Led by First-Lieutenant Thomas Fortescue Kennedy, British sailors climbed onto the French ship. They entered through the main deck openings and chains. The French crew tried to defend their ship, but they were slowly overwhelmed.
The captain of the Fougueux, Louis Alexis Baudoin, was fatally wounded earlier. Commander François Bazin took charge. When he realized most officers were dead or hurt and many guns were out of action, Commander Bazin surrendered the ship. The Fougueux was captured by the British.
A Witness's Account
Captain Lucas of the Redoutable described the Fougueux's situation. He said the Fougueux had fought many enemy ships. It was left without its masts and rigging, floating like a helpless hulk. When it drifted near other ships, the Temeraire boarded it. Captain Lucas noted that the Fougueux could not put up much resistance. Its brave captain, Baudouin, was killed early on, and his second-in-command was wounded.
Shipwreck and Loss
The day after the Battle of Trafalgar, a terrible storm hit the area. Many ships that survived the battle were damaged or lost in the storm. The Fougueux was driven ashore near Torre Bermeja on the coast of Spain. It was completely wrecked.
Only 25 people on board survived the shipwreck. These included both the British sailors who had captured the ship and the French prisoners. The Fougueux was lost on October 22, 1805.
Images for kids
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Fougueux (far left) at Trafalgar, by Edward Duncan after William John Huggins
