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Louis Guillaume de Parscau du Plessix

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Louis Guillaume de Parscau du Plessix
Born1725
Saint-Malo, France
Died1786
Service / branchFrench Navy
RankSeven Years' War
Battles / warsSeven Years' War
War of American Independence

Louis Guillaume de Parscau du Plessix (Saint-Malo, 1725 — 1786) was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence, earning membership in the Society of the Cincinnati. [1]

Biography

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Parscau was born to the family of a navy Ensign. He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in 1743.[1]

During the Seven Years' War, Parscau served on the 64-gun Brillant under Conflans.[1] Parscau was promoted to Lieutenant in 1756.[1]

In 1762, Parscau had a son, Hervé Louis Joseph Marie de Parscau du Plessix.[Note 1]

Parscau was promoted to Captain in 1772.[1] In 1777, he commanded the 64-gun Roland in Brest.[3][4][5] Navy Minister Sartine had chosen her to be one of the six ships held ready for immediate departure at all times.[6][Note 2]

In 1779, he was flag captain to Orvilliers on the 110-gun Bretagne.[7]

In 1780, he was given command of the 74-gun Intrépide in the squadron under Guichen.[1][8][9] He took part in the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780,[10] and in an expedition against British interests in Florida. He took part in the Siege of Pensacola in May 1781.[11] On 22 July 1781, as the squadron was anchored at Cap français, a barrel of local rum caught fire, and Intrépide exploded.[12][13][14] De Grasse wrote that Parscau was not to be blamed for the incident, and requested he be given a new command.[12]

Parscau was then given command of the 80-gun Languedoc.[14] He took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781, as flag captain to Monteil, commander of the French rear.[1][15]

After the battle, Parscau ferried Lauzun back to France and brought the news of the outcome of the battle.[2]

Parscau was promoted to Brigadier in 1782, [1] and commanded the 74-gun Guerrier in the fleet under Córdova.[2][16][17]

Parscau was promoted to Chef d'Escadre in 1784.[1]

Sources and references

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Notes

  1. ^ He would himself be a Navy officer, raising to contre-amiral in 1827.[2]
  2. ^ The six ships held in a state of maximum readiness in Brest were the 74-gun Robuste, under Lamotte-Picquet; Actif, under Hector; Fendant, under Vaudreuil; and the 64-gun Bizarre, under Montecler; Roland, under Du Plessis Parscau; and Triton, under Brach.[6]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Contenson (1934), p. 240.
  2. ^ a b c Contenson (1934), p. 241.
  3. ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 240.
  4. ^ Contenson (1934), p. 228.
  5. ^ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 609.
  6. ^ a b Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 91.
  7. ^ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 639.
  8. ^ Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 643.
  9. ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 243.
  10. ^ Troude (1867), p. 71.
  11. ^ Troude (1867), p. 103.
  12. ^ a b Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 396.
  13. ^ Troude (1867), p. 104.
  14. ^ a b Archives nationales (2011), p. 306.
  15. ^ Troude (1867), p. 107.
  16. ^ Troude (1867), p. 128.
  17. ^ Archives nationales (2011), p. 319.

References

  • Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
  • Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion. pp. 431–434.
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.
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