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Surcouf then decided to sail to the coasts of the [[Mergui Archipelago]] to load a rice cargo.<ref name=cunat393>Cunat, p.393</ref> On 8 December 1795,<ref name=granier217 /> while in transit, cruising off the [[Ganges Delta]],<ref name=rouvier254>Rouvier, p.254</ref> Surcouf captured his first prized, the ship ''Penguin'', loaded with woods, on which he detached a prize crew under Lieutenant Péru before sending her to Isle de France.<ref name=cunat393 />
Surcouf then decided to sail to the coasts of the [[Mergui Archipelago]] to load a rice cargo.<ref name=cunat393>Cunat, p.393</ref> On 8 December 1795,<ref name=granier217 /> while in transit, cruising off the [[Ganges Delta]],<ref name=rouvier254>Rouvier, p.254</ref> Surcouf captured his first prized, the ship ''Penguin'', loaded with woods, on which he detached a prize crew under Lieutenant Péru before sending her to Isle de France.<ref name=cunat393 />


On 19 January 1796,<ref name=cunat393 /> Surcouf met the [[pilot ship]]<ref name=rouvier254 /> ''Cartier''<ref name=Levot494 /><ref name=cunat393 /> leading two merchantmen, the ''Russel'' and ''Sambolasse'', through the reefs of Bengal.<ref name=cunat393 /> He attacked and captured them, finding the merchantmen to be loaded with a rice cargo.<ref name=cunat393 /> After detaching prize crews, Surcouf transferred on ''Cartier'',<ref group=Note>Which, according to [[Ambroise Louis Garneray]], he renamed ''Hasard'' (quoted in {{cite book|title=Histoire des marins français sous la République, de 1789 à 1803|first=Charles|last=Rouvier|publisher=Arthus Bertrand|year=|url=http://books.google.com/?id=9S8BAAAAQAAJ|language=French|oclc=6804406|page=254}})</ref> along with his remaining 22 crewmembers and the four guns of ''Émilie'', and sent off ''Émilie'', under Lieutenant Croizet, and his prizes, to Isle de France.<ref name=cunat394>Cunat, p.394</ref>
On 19 January 1796,<ref name=cunat393 /> Surcouf met the [[pilot ship]]<ref name=rouvier254 /> ''Cartier''<ref name=Levot494 /><ref name=cunat393 /> leading two merchantmen, the ''Russel'' and ''Sambolasse'', through the reefs of Bengal.<ref name=cunat393 /> He attacked and captured them, finding the merchantmen to be loaded with a rice cargo.<ref name=cunat393 /> After detaching prize crews, Surcouf transferred on ''Cartier'' (which, according to [[Ambroise Louis Garneray]], he renamed ''Hasard''),<ref>{{cite book|title=Histoire des marins français sous la République, de 1789 à 1803|first=Charles|last=Rouvier|publisher=Arthus Bertrand|year=|url=http://books.google.com/?id=9S8BAAAAQAAJ|language=French|oclc=6804406|page=254}})</ref> along with his remaining 22 crewmembers and the four guns of ''Émilie'', and sent off ''Émilie'', under Lieutenant Croizet, and his prizes, to Isle de France.<ref name=cunat394>Cunat, p.394</ref>


[[File:Triton-Hasard-stitched.jpg|thumb|Boarding of the ''Triton'' by the French [[French corsairs|corsair]] ''Hasard'' (ex-''Cartier''). Engraving by [[Ambroise-Louis Garneray]].]]
[[File:Triton-Hasard-stitched.jpg|thumb|Boarding of the ''Triton'' by the French [[French corsairs|corsair]] ''Hasard'' (ex-''Cartier''). Engraving by [[Ambroise-Louis Garneray]].]]

Revision as of 11:13, 12 May 2013

For ships of this name, see French ship Surcouf.
Robert Surcouf
Portrait of Surcouf by Antoine Maurin
Born12 December 1773
Saint-Malo, Brittany
Died8 July 1827(1827-07-08) (aged 53)
Saint-Malo, Brittany
AllegianceFrance
Years of service1798–1809
CommandsÉmilie

Clarisse
Confiance

Revenant
AwardsSabre of honour
Legion of Honour
Spouse(s)Marie Blaize
RelationsBrother to Nicolas Surcouf
Cousin to Joseph Potier
Other workship-owner of privateers and merchantmen
Signature

Robert Surcouf (12 December 1773 – 8 July 1827) was a French privateer and slave trader who operated in the Indian Ocean between 1789 and 1801, and again from 1807 to 1808, capturing over 40 prizes, while amassing a large fortune as a ship-owner, both from privateering and from commerce.[1]

Surcouf started his career as a sailor and officer on the slave ships Aurore, Courrier d'Afrique and Navigateur. Having risen to Captain, and in spite of the prohibition of slave trading by the National Convention in 1793, he engaged in the business himself as a captain on Créole. He then captained the merchantman Émilie, on which he engaged in commerce raiding despite lacking a lettre de marque. He preyed on British shipping, famously capturing the East Indiaman Triton, before returning to Mauritius, where his prizes were confiscated. He then returned to France, where he obtained prize money from the government.

Returning to the Indian Ocean, Surcouf captained the privateers Clarisse and Confiance, raiding British, American and Portuguese merchantmen. He famously captured the East Indiaman Kent on 7 October 1800. Returning to France, he was awarded the Legion of Honour and settled as a ship-owner.

He briefly returned to the Indian Ocean in 1807 on the custom-built Revenant before returning to France. There, he armed privateers and merchantmen. His privateers led successful campaigns in the Indian Ocean and disastrous ones in the English Channel, except for Renard which achieved fame in her victory over HMS Alphea on 9 September 1812. After the Bourbon restoration, he organised fishing expeditions to Terre-Neuve and amassed a considerable fortune.

Career

Youth

Robert Surcouf was born 12 December 1773 in Saint-Malo to a family of ship-owners.[2] His father, Charles-Ange Surcouf de Boisgris, was the great-son of Robert Surcouf de Maisonneuve,[3] who had captained the privateer Aimable under the reign of Louix XIV.[4] On the side of his mother, he was a distant relative of René Duguay-Trouin.[5] When his parents sent him to Dinan college to become a priest, he escaped at the age of thirteen to enlist on the merchantman Héron, which shuttled between Saint-Malo and Cadiz.[6]

On 3 March 1789, he enlisted as a volunteer on the 700-ton Aurore,[4] under Captain Tardivet, a slave ship[1] bound for India.[2] Aurore sailed to Pondicherry and ferried troops[6] bound for Isle de France.[4] On her next journey, seeking to purchase slaves on the Horn of Africa, Aurore was wrecked in Mozambique Channel, drawning 400 black slaves chained in the orlop.[6] Tardivet chartered the Portugues San Antoine in October 1790 to return to Port-Louis, but had to divert to Sumatra because of the weather, and only returned to Port-Louis in late 1790, on a French ship via Pondicherry.[6] Promoted to officer, Surcouf enlisted on the Courrier d'Afrique, another slave ship,[1] bound for Mozambic under Captain Garnier.[4] Captain Tardivet then brough him over as Lieutenant on his new ship, Revanche.[7] On Revanche, Surcouf made several expeditions off Madagascar.[4][7]

Surcouf enlisted as a helmsman on the French Royal Navy 20-gun fluyt Bienvenue, under Lieutenant Haumont,[8] bound for France[9] Bienvenue arrived at Lorient on 2 January 1792, where Surcouf discovered the political changes France had undergone in the wake of the French Revolution.[9]

After six months, Surcouf enlisted as a lieutenant on the slave ship Navigateur,[1] under Captain Lejoliff.[9][10] She departed on 27 August 1792 for Mozambique before sailing to Isle de France, where Surcouf was informed on his arrival of the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars.[9] He served as an auxiliay ensign of the 40-gun frigate Cybèle during the Action of 22 October 1794.[6]

Risen to the rank of captain, Surcouf took command of the brig Créole,[9] a four-gun slave ship.[1][7] He departed Isle de France on 3 June 1794 [7] for a journey off Africa and Madagascar,[9] and engaged again in slave trading, even though it had been prohibited by the National Convention and the Assembly of Isle Bourbon.[11] Upon his return, agents of the Committee of Public Safety inspected the ship on suspicion of slave trading, but could not prove their accusations, as Surcouf had already sold his slaves.[11]

Cruise of Émilie and capture of Triton

Cruise of Émilie: from Port-Louis (Mauritius) to the Seychelles via La Réunion, on to Sumatra, the Gulf of Bengal, and return to Port-Louis.

In the spring in 1795,[7] Surcouf took command of the 180-ton,[9] privateer schooner Modeste,[7] renamed Émilie, with a 32-man crew and four 6-pounder guns,[9] armed by Malroux and Levaillant.[12] Governor Malartic refused to proved a lettre de marque and ordered Émilie sent to the Seychelles to purchase tortoises as food of Isle de France.[7][11][12]

Émilie departed on 3 September 1795 with a congé de navigation authorising her to defend herself, but not to take prizes as a privateer. The next day, she made a port call to Saint-Denis before cruising to Mahé.[12] At Sainte Anne Island, Surcouf was chased by two large British ships, which he evaded by sailing through the reefs,[7] by night.[12]

Surcouf then decided to sail to the coasts of the Mergui Archipelago to load a rice cargo.[13] On 8 December 1795,[11] while in transit, cruising off the Ganges Delta,[14] Surcouf captured his first prized, the ship Penguin, loaded with woods, on which he detached a prize crew under Lieutenant Péru before sending her to Isle de France.[13]

On 19 January 1796,[13] Surcouf met the pilot ship[14] Cartier[7][13] leading two merchantmen, the Russel and Sambolasse, through the reefs of Bengal.[13] He attacked and captured them, finding the merchantmen to be loaded with a rice cargo.[13] After detaching prize crews, Surcouf transferred on Cartier (which, according to Ambroise Louis Garneray, he renamed Hasard),[15] along with his remaining 22 crewmembers and the four guns of Émilie, and sent off Émilie, under Lieutenant Croizet, and his prizes, to Isle de France.[16]

Boarding of the Triton by the French corsair Hasard (ex-Cartier). Engraving by Ambroise-Louis Garneray.

In the night of 28 January, Surcouf captured the 12-gun Diana,[16] loaded with 6000 bags of rice.[17] The next day, Cartier met a 26-gun Indiaman,[17] the Triton,[7] armed with 12-pounders and a 150-man crew;[7] having decided to attack and recognising only too late the overwhelming superiority of his opponent,[7] Surcouf, feeling threatened and unable to flee, decided to board her with his 26 men.[17][Note 1] After harranging his men, he approached under a British flag,[18] before hoisting French colours at the very last moment and launching a violent assault.[19] In the ensuing 45-minute battle,[7] Triton suffered 5 wounded and 10 killed,[20] including her captain, Captain Burnycat, and the first officer, Picket;[19] The prisonners were transferred to Diana, which was released against a 30,000 rupee ransom.[21]

Surcouf returned to Ile de France with his prizes,[14] where he arrived on 10 March 1796.[19] As Émilie had been armed as a merchant rather than a privateer, the Prize court seized her prizes and sold them for the benefits of the State,[14] although their capture was declared to be legal.[20] Surcouf returned to France to claim his prize money, and on 3 September 1797,[20] the government finally granted him 660,000 francs,[7] of which he only received 80,000.[20][Note 2]

Cruise of Clarisse

First cruise with Clarisse and battle of Susoh.

In early 1798,[22] after 14 months in Paris,[7] Surcouf took command of the Clarisse, a 14-gun privateer brig[7] armed with four 12-pounders, ten 8-pounders, and manned by a 120-strong complement.[22] He departed from Paimboeuf[7] Nantes in February 1798,[23] this time with a propre lettre de marque.[21] During the journey to Isle de France, Clarisse chased a British slave ship,[23] which escaped after one of her shots cut off Clarisse 's foremast tops.[22][24] Surcouf captured a British brig[21] South of Cape of Good Hope, which surrendered at the warning shot,[21] on which he sent a prize crew under Captain Dujardin,[23] and arrived La Réunion on 5 December.[22]

In early 1799, Surcouf sailed to the city of Susoh[22][25][26] in Aceh, on Sumatra, where he found two 20-gun merchantmen anchored in the harbour, in the process of loading pepper; Clarisse dropped anchor close by and opened fire, after which Surcouf sent his brother, Nicholas Surcouf, to head a 20-man board party on Clarisse 's boats and board the largest of the ships, while he boarded her with Clarisse from the opposite side; assaulted from two sides, she surrendered after a 30-minute battle.[27] The other ship cut her anchor and attempted to flee, but she was overhauled by the boats of Clarisse and captured without resistance, most of her crew being ashore.[27] Surcouf returned to Isle de France with his prizes in June.[22]

Second cruise with Clarisse

On 16 August, Clarisse departed Isle de France for another cruise; she sailed to La Réunion carrying despatches of Malartic to the governor. She then cruised to Java to procure water,[28] where she arrived on 27 September.[29] On 1 October, Surcouf captured a Danish[24] merchantman, which he sent away under Lieutenant Fonroc;[29] on 4 November,[30] the Portuguese[24] merchantman Nostra Signora de la Conception carrying 116 000 piastres;[30][28] on 6, a British ship laden with a salt cargo;[30] and on 11 November, the 20-gun Auspicious, with a cargo worth 1,032,580 francs.[28][30]

Surcouf sailed to Mergui[28] to purchase food and free his prisonners, and put to sail on 10 December.[28] En route, he met the fellow French privateer Malartic, under Jean Dutertre;[28] soon after, the privateers met a British frigate,[28] 38-gun frigate HMS Sybille, which gave chase and which Surcouf managed outsail by throwing eight guns overboards, along with various other implements.[28]

On 1 January 1800, Clarisse captured a large rice-laden merchantman,[28] the British James.[30] On 3 January, she detected two American 16-carronade ships forming a line of battle; although Clarisse lacked her eight guns sacrificed to escape Sybille and 60 of her men detached on her various prizes, Surcouf engaged.[31] Clarisse raked the rear-most ship, the Louisia,[24] and boarded her, while simultaneously firing a broadside on the other ship, Mercury,[29] which attempted to rescue her mate. Nicholas Surcouf led a 30-man boarding party to seize Louisa, while Mercury escaped.[31] Clarisse could not give chase, her bowsprit having been destroyed in the collision Louisa.[32] Nicholas Surcouf was given command of Louisa[29][31]

Surcouf returning to Port-Louis with his prizes (probably on Clarisse).

Clarisse continued her patrol, capturing the ships Catherine, Haderbux, Anna Maria, Nostra Signora de la Cruz, Louis, Janna, Notre Dame de Bon Succès and Albion,[30] before sailing back to Isle de France with her prizes.[31] She arrived in early February 1800.[29]

Cruise of Confiance and capture of Kent

Cruise of Confiance

In May 1800, Surcouf took command of Confiance, a fast 18-gun brig[24] from Bordeaux, with a 150-man complement; the competition with Dutertre for the captainship of Confiance almost degenerated into a duel, and Governor Malartic had to intervene to prevent it, stating that such a confrontation would be "an English victory".[33] The sailor and painter Ambroise Louis Garneray, future biographer of Surcouf, enlisted at this time.[33]

In late April 1800, Confiance cruised off Sunda Strait, where she captured the American ship; she then left the strait to avoid a US frigate which was known to cruise in these waters, and sailed to the Seychelles. There, he escaped a British ship of the line and a frigate, and sailed on to cruise the Bay of Bengal.[34]

On 19 September, Confiance captured the Prize, from Calcutta, which has stored eight of her ten guns in her hold to improve her stability. Prize was sent off to Mauritius on the next day with a 85-man prize crew.[35] Surcouf then steered for Ganjam, where he captured three smaller ships.[36]

Capture of the Kent by the Confiance. Painting by Ambroise Louis Garneray.

On 7 October 1800, off Sand Heads, near Calcutta, Confiance met the 26-gun East Indiaman Kent, of 824 tons burthen,[37][38][Note 3] under Captain Robert Rivington. Kent had rescued the crew of another ship, the Queen,[39][40][Note 4] destroyed by fire,[37] and therefore had an exceptionally large complement[41] of 437 men, including her passengers; 300 of them were soldiers and sailors;[34][Note 5] Surcouf managed to board his larger opponent and, after over an hour and a half[42] of battle across the decks of the ship,[43] seize control of the Kent.[44]

The British had fourteen killed, including the captain,[41] and 44 wounded, while the French suffered five killed and ten wounded.[41] The privateers were then granted one hour of free pillaging on Kent before Surcouf restored order;[40][45][46] however, the female passagers were strictly protected and sentries were placed in front of their apartments.[47] Amongst the prisonners were General Frederick St. John and his wife,[41] Arabella Craven.[48]

Account of the capture of Kent in The Gentleman's Magazine, October 1800.

The first officer of Confiance, Drieux, was sent on Kent with a 60-man prize crew, while her passagers were released on a merchantman that Surcouf stopped a few days later.[49] Confiance and Kent arrived at the Rade des Pavillons in Port-Louis in November.[40] The capture of Kent became a sensation, and the British Admiralty promise a reward for the capture of Surcouf.[49]

After her return to Ile de France, Confiance was armed as a merchantman en aventurier[Note 6] with a 89-man crew[40] and loaded with colonial goods for her return to France. On the journey, Surcouf still managed to capture a number of ships, notably the Portuguese Ebre,[40] with eighteen 12-pounder carronades and a 60-man crew; she was released against a ransom of 10,000 piastres and after exchanging her greatmast with that of Confiance.[49]

Upon her return, Confiance ran into the British blockade and was chased by a frigate; Surcouf managed to evade her by throwing overboard all but one guns, his boats, anchors, chains and even components of his masts. He eventually arrived at La Rochelle[24][50][51][Note 7] on 13 April 1801.[49][50]

In France, Navy Minister Truguet attempted to enrol Surcouf in the Navy as an auxiliary officer, which he declined.[49] Hennequin states that Bonaparte himself offered him the rank of Captain and the command of two frigates, which Surcouf declined for fear of losing his liberty of action, and awarded him a Sabre of honour.[51] Surcouf was awarded the Legion of Honour at the founding of the Order, on 19 May 1802.[24]

Documents on Surcouf's Legion of Honour
  • Document forwarding Surcouf's request to be admitted in the Legion of Honour
    Document forwarding Surcouf's request to be admitted in the Legion of Honour
  • Document on the background verification process
    Document on the background verification process
  • Official letter to Surcouf: "The Emperor, during a Great Council, has made you a member of the Legion of Honour"
    Official letter to Surcouf: "The Emperor, during a Great Council, has made you a member of the Legion of Honour"

On 28 May, in Saint-Malo, he married Marie Blaize, who had been his fiancée for two years;[50] over the course of their marriage, they had five children together.[1] Around 1805, Surcouf started to arm privateers in Saint-Malo in partnership with his father-in-law,[52] notably Caroline which captured four ships in the Indian Ocean under Nicolas Surcouf;[53] Marsouin; and Confiance, which took two prizes under Joseph Potier.[54]

Cruise of Revenant

Cruise of Revenant.

After a five-year retirement,[24] in early 1807, Surcouf ordered the 18-gun[50] Revenant, a privateer which he had built on his own specifications.[24] On 2 March, he departed Saint-Malo with a 192-man crew[50] to cruise off Bengal. On 9 March 1807,[55] while en route, off Madeira, Revenant captured the British slave ship Aun,[55] of sixteen 12-pounders, recently departed from Liverpool,[56] which Surcouf let go for a ransom, after throwing her guns overboard, wetting her gunpowder and destroying some of her sails.[50] Revenant reached Isle de France on 10 June 1807, along with several prizes taken during her journey.[56][57]

Detail of Combat de Grand Port, by Pierre Julien Gilbert, Musée national de la marine. Victor (ex-Revenant) can be seen in the background.

The arrival of Surcouf at Isle de France did not go unnoticed: the authorities and the population reacted with enthusiasm, while British insurance companies on Calcutta doubled the reward for his capture,[50] which amounted to one rupee lake, or 250,000 francs.[58] On 3 September 1807, Revenant departed to cruise off Bengal. On 25 September, she captured the British 12-gun Trafalgar carrying 10,000 bags of rice,[55] and the 14-gun Mangle, carrying 11,000;[55] on the 27th, the 12-gun Admiral Applin, with 9,500 bags of rice;[55] on 1 October, the 1—gun Suzannah, with 5,500 bags of rice; on the 19th, the wood-laden Success, which was burnt;[55] on the 30th, the 12-gun Fortune, which carried no cargo and was sunk;[55] on 15 Novermber, the Indian Macauly;[55] on 18 December, the British 10-gun Sir William Burrough;[55] on the 30th, the Portuguese Oriente;[55] and on 6 January 1808, the Arab Jem lab Dim.[55] Surcouf sent with prize crews to Isle de France, and returned himself on 31 January 1808.[50]

Surcouf then gave command of Revenant to his first officer, Joseph Potier. After a short cruise, Potier returned with a 34-gun[Note 8] prize of the Portuguese East India Company,[59] the Conceçáo de San Antonio,[59] captured after a one-hour fight.[60]

On 4 July 1808, Revenant was requisitionned by order of General Decaen, governor of Isle de France.[61] She was renamed Iéna, and her command was given to Lieutenant Morice, with Lieutenant de vaisseau Albin Roussin as second officer. Surcouf had an altercation with Decaen but had to renounce his ship, and eventually purchased the Sémillante, which he renamed Charles, to return to Saint-Malo, where he arrived on 4 February 1809.[24][60]

Late life

Portrait of Surcouf during his business career

From 1809, Surcouf went into business as ship-owner,[24] and over the years, he armed a number of privateers:[60] Auguste, under Pelletier;[60][62] Dorade;[60] Biscayenne;[60] Édouard;[60] Espadon;[60] Ville-de-Caen;[60] Adolphe[60] and his last, the Renard,[53][60] under Leroux.[62] With the exception of Renard, all the privateers sent by Surcouf into the English Channel were captured by the British.[1]

Tumbstone of Surcouf

In January 1814, Surcouf was made a colonel in the National Guard of Saint-Malo.[24] During the Hundred Days, he served as a chief of Legion and maintained order.[24] He resigned after the Battle of Waterloo and became a merchant,[24] arming 19 merchantmen[63] and establishing business with Terre-Neuve.[58]

Surcouf died on 8 July 1827, and was buried in Saint-Malo graveyard with military honours.[64] His tomb features a globe showing the Indian Ocean and an anchor,[65] with the epitaph:

A famour sailor has finished his career

He is in the tomb forever asleep
Seamen are deprived of their father

The unfortunates have lost a friend[65][Note 9]

Legacy

Statue of Surcouf in Saint-Malo by Alfred Caravanniez, inaugurated on 6 July 1903.

A number of legends have grown around Surcouf over the time: he is often stated to have been made a Baron of the Empire, which is untrue.[1][Note 10] Another legend states that Surcouf had thrown overboard gold seized on Kent; in fact, Kent did not carry gold.[1][Note 11] An epic tale goes that around 1816 or 1817, Surcouf challenged twelve Prussian officers to a duel and defeated all of them except for the last, which he let go "to tell in his country how a former soldier of Napoleon fights"; this story appears to be a fabrication posterior to 1890.[66][Note 12]

Five ships of the French Navy were named in honour of Surcouf: a steam aviso; an armoured cruiser; a submarine cruiser, which at the time of her launch was the largest submarine in the world, joined the Free French Naval Forces during the Second World War, and disappeared mysteriously after liberating Saint-Pierre and Miquelon; a large fleet escort destroyer, which was heavily damaged in a collision with a Soviet ship; and the present-day stealth frigates, one of the first stealth combat ships.[67]

Ships of the French Navy named Surcouf
  • The steam 2nd-class aviso Renard, similar to Surcouf (1858–1885)
    The steam 2nd-class aviso Renard, similar to Surcouf (1858–1885)
  • The armoured cruiser Forbin, sister-ship of Surcouf (1889–1921)
    The armoured cruiser Forbin, sister-ship of Surcouf (1889–1921)
  • The submarine cruised Surcouf (N N 3, 1929–1942)
    The submarine cruised Surcouf (N N 3, 1929–1942)
  • The fleet escort destroyer Surcouf (1953–1972)
    The fleet escort destroyer Surcouf (1953–1972)
  • The stealth frigate Surcouf (1997–present day)
    The stealth frigate Surcouf (1997–present day)

Notes and References

Notes

  1. ^ Levot gives a figure of 17 men; Cunat, of 19. See Levot, Prosper (1866). Les gloires maritimes de la France: notices biographiques sur les plus célèbres marins (in French). Bertrand. p. 494. OCLC 562314991. and Cunat, Charles (1857). Saint-Malo illustré par ses marins (in French). Imprimerie de F. Péalat. p. 395. OCLC 793555867.
  2. ^ Some sources state that the allowance was of 1,700,000 francs, of which Surcouf left two thirds to the Treasury. See for instance Granier, Hubert (1998). Histoire des Marins français 1789–1815. illustrations by Alain Coz. Marines éditions. p. 218. ISBN 2-909675-41-6. OCLC 468167565.
  3. ^ A number of French accounts gild the lily of Surcouf's stunning victory by exaggerating by 60% Kent's size and guns. Rouvier states 38 guns and 1200 tons; Cunat specifies that Kent carried twenty-six 18-pounder on her battery and 12 9-pounder on her castles; Hennequin gives an approximate 40 guns, but confirms the figure of 1200 tons. See Rouvier, Charles. Histoire des marins français sous la République, de 1789 à 1803 (in French). Arthus Bertrand. p. 526. OCLC 6804406.; Cunat, Charles (1857). Saint-Malo illustré par ses marins (in French). Imprimerie de F. Péalat. p. 398. OCLC 793555867. and Hennequin, Joseph François Gabriel (1835). Biographie maritime ou notices historiques sur la vie et les campagnes des marins célèbres français et étrangers (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: Regnault éditeur. p. 384. OCLC 457813464.
  4. ^ Cunat actually names her as Reine, translating her name into French. See Cunat, Charles (1857). Saint-Malo illustré par ses marins (in French). Imprimerie de F. Péalat. p. 398. OCLC 793555867.
  5. ^ The Gazette de France reported that Kent carried 150 soldiers of line infantry. Quoted in Gallois, Napoléon (1847). Les Corsaires français sous la République et l'Empire (in French). Vol. 2. Julien, Lanier et compagnie. p. 374. OCLC 6977453.
  6. ^ Cunat says that Confiance was armed "à l'aventure", entailing that she was nominally a merchantman, but was capable of attacking targets of opportunity. See Cunat, Charles (1857). Saint-Malo illustré par ses marins (in French). Imprimerie de F. Péalat. p. 398. OCLC 793555867.
  7. ^ Rouvier says Rochefort instead of La Rochelle. See Rouvier, Charles. Histoire des marins français sous la République, de 1789 à 1803 (in French). Arthus Bertrand. p. 527. OCLC 6804406.
  8. ^ Cunat gives a figure of 64 guns for Conceçáo and implies she was a naval ship; while she had indeed been built as a 64-gun ship of the line and still belonged to the government, she sailed for private ship-owners and was armed only with 36 guns, of which only 28 were useable (report of Captain Potier, quoted in Lepelley p. 143 — 144). See Cunat, Charles (1857). Saint-Malo illustré par ses marins (in French). Imprimerie de F. Péalat. p. 400. OCLC 793555867. and Lepelley, Roger (2000). La Fin d'un empire : les derniers jours de l'Isle de France et de l'Isle Bonaparte : 1809–1810. Economica. p. 143-144. ISBN 2-7178-4148-2. OCLC 45463166.
  9. ^ Un célèbre marin a fini sa carrière
    Il est dans le tombeau à jamais endormi
    Les matelots sont privés de leur père
    Les malheureux ont perdu un ami
  10. ^ Granier, for instance, states that Surcouf was made Baron. See Granier, Hubert (1998). Histoire des Marins français 1789–1815. illustrations by Alain Coz. Marines éditions. p. 226. ISBN 2-909675-41-6. OCLC 468167565.
  11. ^ For instance the tale is told without reservation in Granier, Hubert (1998). Histoire des Marins français 1789–1815. illustrations by Alain Coz. Marines éditions. p. 220. ISBN 2-909675-41-6. OCLC 468167565..
  12. ^ For instance the tale is told without reservation in Granier, Hubert (1998). Histoire des Marins français 1789–1815. illustrations by Alain Coz. Marines éditions. p. 227. ISBN 2-909675-41-6. OCLC 468167565..

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Alain Roman; summary on Robert Surcouf, www.netmarine.net
  2. ^ a b Levot, p. 493
  3. ^ Cunat, p.145
  4. ^ a b c d e Cunat, p.390
  5. ^ Hennequin, p.378
  6. ^ a b c d e Granier, p.216
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Levot, p. 494
  8. ^ Roche, p.74
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Cunat, p.391
  10. ^ Granier (p.216) say "captain de Joliff" instead of "Lejoliff"
  11. ^ a b c d Granier, p.217
  12. ^ a b c d Cunat, p.392
  13. ^ a b c d e f Cunat, p.393
  14. ^ a b c d Rouvier, p.254
  15. ^ Rouvier, Charles. Histoire des marins français sous la République, de 1789 à 1803 (in French). Arthus Bertrand. p. 254. OCLC 6804406.)
  16. ^ a b Cunat, p.394
  17. ^ a b c Rouvier, p.252
  18. ^ Rouvier, p.253
  19. ^ a b c Cunat, p.395
  20. ^ a b c d Hennequin, p.380
  21. ^ a b c d Granier, p.218
  22. ^ a b c d e f Rouvier, p.447
  23. ^ a b c Cunat, p.396
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Levot, p. 495
  25. ^ Granier, p.223
  26. ^ Hennequin, p.381
  27. ^ a b Hennequin, p.382
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rouvier, p.448
  29. ^ a b c d e Cunat, p.397
  30. ^ a b c d e f Granier, p.224
  31. ^ a b c d Rouvier, p.449
  32. ^ Hennequin, p.383
  33. ^ a b Granier, p.219
  34. ^ a b Rouvier, p.526
  35. ^ Asiatic Annual Register, Volume 3, p.39
  36. ^ Asiatic Annual Register, Volume 3, p.40
  37. ^ a b Norman p.353
  38. ^ Biden p.212
  39. ^ Laughton, p.439
  40. ^ a b c d e Cunat, p.398
  41. ^ a b c d Hennequin, p.384
  42. ^ Laughton, p.438
  43. ^ Laughton, p.440
  44. ^ Laughton, p.441
  45. ^ Laughton, p.441
  46. ^ Hennequin (p.385) states that the effects of the prisoners were returned to them when he had them transfered on Confiance.
  47. ^ Laughton, p.442
  48. ^ ST. JOHN, Hon. Frederick (1765-1844), of Chailey, Sussex., The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
  49. ^ a b c d e Rouvier, p.527
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h Cunat, p.399
  51. ^ a b Hennequin, p.385
  52. ^ Granier, p.221
  53. ^ a b Gallois, vol.2, p.302
  54. ^ Gallois, vol.2, p.302–303
  55. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Granier, p.225
  56. ^ a b Hennequin, p.386
  57. ^ Fonds Marine, p. 362
  58. ^ a b Hennequin, p.387
  59. ^ a b Lepelley, p.7
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cunant, p.400
  61. ^ Fonds Marine, p. 377
  62. ^ a b Gallois, vol.2, p.306
  63. ^ Cunat, p.401
  64. ^ Cunat, p.402
  65. ^ a b Granier, p.228
  66. ^ M. Corbes, Conference of 16 August 1954, Société d'histoire et d'archéologie de l'arrondissement de Saint-Malo.
  67. ^ Les bâtiments ayant porté le nom de Surcouf, netmarine

Bibliography

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