Joseph-Bernard de Chabert-Cogolin facts for kids
Joseph-Bernard de Chabert-Cogolin was a brave French Navy officer. He was born in Toulon, France, on February 28, 1724. He passed away on December 2, 1805. He played a part in the American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of American Independence.
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Joseph-Bernard de Chabert-Cogolin came from a family of naval officers. His father, Joseph-François de Chabert, was also in the Navy. Joseph-Bernard joined the French Navy in 1741 as a young officer-in-training, called a Garde-Marine.
He quickly saw action. In 1744, he fought in the Battle of Toulon. He was serving on a 50-gun ship named Diamant. The next year, he sailed to Martinique twice on other ships. In 1746, he helped capture a British ship called Albany near Acadia.
However, in 1747, he was captured by the British. This happened during the First Battle of Cape Finisterre. After being released, he was promoted to Ensign in 1748.
Explorer and Mapmaker
Chabert was not just a fighter; he was also a skilled explorer and mapmaker. In 1750 and 1751, he explored the coasts of North America. He carefully surveyed areas like Acadia, Isle Royale, and Newfoundland.
In 1753, he published a book about his travels. It was called Voyage fait par ordre du Roi en 1750 et 1751 dans l'Amérique septentrionale. This book helped to correct and improve maps of these regions. He used astronomy to find the exact locations of important points. That same year, he traveled to Carthagena to observe a solar eclipse.
Rising Through the Ranks
Chabert continued to advance in his naval career. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1756. He took part in the Battle of Minorca that year. He commanded a ship called Hirondelle in a squadron led by La Galissonière.
In 1758, he joined the Geography office in Versailles. This office was in charge of maps and charts for the French Navy. The next year, he became a member of the Académie de Marine, a prestigious naval academy.
He became a Commander in 1764. In 1771, he commanded the frigate Mignonne. He used this trip to test a special clock called a chronometer. These clocks were very important for sailors to figure out their exact position at sea. When he returned, he was promoted to Captain.
Wounded in Action
In 1776, Chabert commanded the frigate Atalante. He sailed to test more chronometers and map the coasts of Sicily and Greece. During this trip, near Koroni, pirates attacked his ship. Chabert was seriously wounded when a bullet hit his left cheek.
Service in the American Revolutionary War
In 1778, Chabert captained the 64-gun ship Vaillant. He joined the squadron of D'Estaing during the American Revolutionary War. He fought in several important battles:
- The Battle of St. Lucia in December 1778.
- The Battle of Grenada in July 1779.
In August 1779, D'Estaing's fleet arrived in Boston. Chabert helped set up defenses for Boston harbor. In October, he took part in the Siege of Savannah.
Later, Chabert commanded the 80-gun ship Saint-Esprit. He was part of the squadron led by De Grasse. He fought in:
- The Battle of Fort Royal in April 1781.
- The Battle of the Chesapeake in September 1781, where he was wounded again.
- The Invasion of Tobago in May and June 1781.
- The Siege of Brimstone Hill in January and February 1782, which led to the capture of Saint Kitts.
In April 1782, Saint-Esprit sailed back to France. It was part of a small squadron escorting a large convoy of 120 ships.
Later Life and Achievements
Chabert was promoted to Chef d'Escadre (a high naval rank) in January 1782. He also became a full member of the Académie de Marine that same year.
In 1783, he wrote an important report about marine chronometers for the French Academy of Sciences. This work was key to understanding how to find longitude at sea. In 1785, he was made a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
In 1792, Chabert reached the rank of Vice-Admiral. However, during the French Revolution, he had to leave France. He went to London, where a famous astronomer named Nevil Maskelyne helped him. Around 1800, Chabert lost his eyesight. He returned to France in 1802 and joined the Bureau des Longitudes, an important scientific organization.
He received high honors, including being a Commander in the Order of Saint Louis and the Order of Saint Lazare.
