Joseph-Marie Nielly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph-Marie Nielly
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|---|---|
| Born | 1751 Brest, Kingdom of France |
| Died | 1833 (aged 81–82) Brest, July Monarchy |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of France (until 1792) First French Empire |
| Service/ |
French Navy |
| Battles/wars | |
Joseph-Marie Nielly (1751 – 1833) was a brave French naval officer and admiral. He sailed the seas during many important wars, including the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. Nielly was born and died in Brest, a famous port city in France.
Contents
Joseph-Marie Nielly started his life at sea very young. At just seven years old, he joined the crew of the ship Formidable. During the Seven Years' War, he was even wounded in the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759. After this, he spent time sailing in the Caribbean Sea.
In 1769, he decided to join the merchant navy. This meant he sailed on ships that carried goods for trade. By 1774, when he was 23, he became the captain of his own merchant ship.
Nielly returned to the French Navy in 1778. He became a lieutenant de frégate, which is a naval officer rank.
Fighting in the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, Nielly commanded a 20-gun ship called the Guyane. His job was to protect groups of supply ships, known as convoys. In 1778, his ship faced a tough battle against five British warships. Even though he was outnumbered, Nielly managed to escape with his ship!
After the war, he went back to working in the merchant navy for a while. But in 1787, he rejoined the French Navy as a sous-lieutenant de vaisseau. He commanded a small ship called the Pilote des Indes from 1789 to 1790. His mission was to protect fishing boats. Later, he served as a first mate and then commander on the ship Dromadaire. He helped deliver supplies to French outposts in the Caribbean.
Rise to Admiral During the Revolution
The French Revolution brought many changes, and Nielly rose through the ranks quickly. In January 1792, he became a full lieutenant de vaisseau. Just one year later, in January 1793, he was promoted to capitaine de vaisseau.
Raiding Enemy Ships
When the War of the First Coalition began, Nielly took command of the frigate Résolue. He became known for raiding enemy merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Biscay, and the English Channel. This type of warfare, called commerce raiding, aimed to disrupt the enemy's trade.
Nielly was a strong supporter of the new French Republic. He even had his crew sign a document supporting the new government. In November 1793, he was promoted to contre-amiral, a high rank similar to a rear admiral.
In April 1794, Nielly led a squadron of five ships and two frigates. His goal was to meet up with a French convoy of supply ships. Although he missed the convoy, his squadron had a big success on May 8. They captured the British ship HMS Castor and 30 merchant ships it was protecting. Another ship in his squadron, the Unité, also captured the British sloop HMS Alert.
Nielly then joined the main French fleet led by Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse. He commanded the rear (back) section of the fleet during a major battle in June 1794. Later that year, in November 1794, Nielly's division captured another British ship, HMS Alexander.
Later Career and Retirement
Nielly continued to serve in important naval operations. He was part of the Brest fleet's winter cruise and the Expédition d'Irlande, an attempt to land French troops in Ireland. During the Ireland expedition, his ship, the Résolue, was badly damaged in a storm. Another French ship accidentally crashed into it, destroying its bowsprit (the pole sticking out from the front), foremast, mainmast, and mizzen (parts of the masts).
Despite reaching Bantry Bay in Ireland, the French fleet faced terrible weather. They could not land their army, so they had to return to Brest.
After these campaigns, Nielly held important shore positions. He was a commander in Brest and Lorient, and later a naval governor in Dunkirk starting in 1800. He retired from the navy in 1803. In 1814, he was given the title of Baron d'Empire. Joseph-Marie Nielly passed away in 1833, holding the honorary rank of vice-admiral.
Honours
Nielly's name is proudly carved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, a famous monument honoring those who fought for France.
