Joseph Léon de La Marthonie facts for kids
Joseph Léon de La Marthonie (born March 27, 1727, in Saint-Germain-du-Seudre and died August 6, 1789, in Saintes, Charente-Maritime) was an important officer in the French Navy. He played a role in the American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of American Independence.
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Léon de La Marthonie
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| Born | 27 March 1727 Saint-Germain-du-Seudre |
| Died | 6 August 1789 (aged 62) Saintes |
| Occupation | Officer of the French Navy |
| Awards |
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| Rank | Gardes de la Marine (1743–), ensign (1748–), lieutenant de vaisseau (1756–), capitaine de frégate (1767–), capitaine de vaisseau (1772–), brigadier des armées navales (1779–) |
Joseph Léon de La Marthonie was born into the family of Suzanne Galateau and Léon Raymond de La Marthonie de Gaignon. From a young age, he chose a career in the navy.
He joined the French Navy on November 28, 1743, as a Garde-Marine. This was a special training program for young noblemen who wanted to become naval officers. It was like a military academy for the navy.
Over the years, La Marthonie steadily rose through the ranks. He became an ensign in 1748 and a lieutenant de vaisseau in 1756. These promotions showed his skill and dedication as a naval officer.
Important Commands and Battles
By 1767, La Marthonie was given command of his first ship, the 4-gun corvette named Lunette. A corvette is a smaller, fast warship.
In 1770, he commanded a much larger ship, the 64-gun Bizarre. This ship was based at Rochefort, an important French naval port. A 64-gun ship was a powerful warship of its time, designed for major battles.
On May 4, 1779, La Marthonie received a significant promotion to Brigadier des Armées navales. This was a high rank, similar to a commodore or rear admiral. With this new rank, he was given command of the 64-gun ship Jason, which was based in Toulon.
The next year, in 1780, he took command of an even larger and more powerful ship, the 74-gun Pluton. He led this ship into one of the major naval battles of the American Revolutionary War.
On April 17, 1780, La Marthonie captained the Pluton at the Battle of Martinique. This was a big naval clash between the French and British fleets in the Caribbean Sea. His participation in such a significant battle highlights his importance in the French Navy during this period.
