Charles de Bernard de Marigny
Encyclopedia
Charles-René-Louis, vicomte de Bernard de Marigny (1 February 1740, Sées
- 25 July 1816, Brest
) was a French vice admiral, grand-cross of the ordre de Saint-Louis and commander of the Brest fleet.
Marigny broke relations with his father and studied to enter the gardes de la marine as well. He was admitted in 1754 and was appointed to the frigate Valeur the next year for a 14-month campaign. He suffered from acute sea sickness, but eventually managed to overcome this issue.
Promoted to ensign in 1757, Marigny was appointed to the corvette Zéphir, and later to the 74-gun Actif, taking part in a campaign to India.
After 40 months, Marigny returned to France on Zodiaque, and served successively on Glorieux, Minotaure, Union, the frigate Légère and the fluyt Garonne. He cruised off Santo Domingo, off Africa, Portugal and India. In 1767, he was promoted to lieutenant and sent in a survey mission on the costs of India. After an eight-month journey, he returned to France with a mémoire for the Ministry of the Navy.
In 1770, Marigny was given command of the scow Dorade, ferrying ammunition from Bayonne to Rochefort. After Dorade was decommissioned, Marigny was appointed to the harbour of Brest.
In 1775, Marigny was awarded the Order of Saint Louis, and given command of the corvette Serin and of the station of Windward Islands
.
Poisonned by sleeping on his freshly repainted ship, Marigny fell ill for one year and had to resign his command. Once cured, he was given command of the corvette Étourdie, cruising in the Channel for 6 months.
In late 1777, he was appointed to the frigate Belle Poule
and tasked with ferrying Benjamin Franklin
to the Americas. Frankly was returning from a trip to France in which he had requested French support on behalf of the Congress.
On 7 January 1778, Belle Poulle was intercepted by HMS Hector
and HMS Courageux at 45° 46 N 8° W. The ships manoeuvered as to take Belle Poule in a crossfire and demanded that Marigny put a boat to sea, which he refused. A British ship then sent a boat and asked "Who are you, where do you come from, where are you sailing?", to which Marigny replied:
After some negotiation, the British officers stated that he had confused Belle Poule for a ship of the revolted colonies masquerading as a French ship.
Sées
Sées is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.It lies on the Orne River from its source and north-by-northeast of Alençon.-Name:...
- 25 July 1816, Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
) was a French vice admiral, grand-cross of the ordre de Saint-Louis and commander of the Brest fleet.
Biography
Born the fourth boy of an eight-child old but poor family from Normandy, Marigny was destined to an ecclesiastic career, and was soon sent to Sées seminary. However, his temperament did inclined- him more to adventure, and at age 14, he escaped the seminary to find refuge by his older brother who served with the gardes de la marine in Rochefort.Marigny broke relations with his father and studied to enter the gardes de la marine as well. He was admitted in 1754 and was appointed to the frigate Valeur the next year for a 14-month campaign. He suffered from acute sea sickness, but eventually managed to overcome this issue.
Promoted to ensign in 1757, Marigny was appointed to the corvette Zéphir, and later to the 74-gun Actif, taking part in a campaign to India.
After 40 months, Marigny returned to France on Zodiaque, and served successively on Glorieux, Minotaure, Union, the frigate Légère and the fluyt Garonne. He cruised off Santo Domingo, off Africa, Portugal and India. In 1767, he was promoted to lieutenant and sent in a survey mission on the costs of India. After an eight-month journey, he returned to France with a mémoire for the Ministry of the Navy.
In 1770, Marigny was given command of the scow Dorade, ferrying ammunition from Bayonne to Rochefort. After Dorade was decommissioned, Marigny was appointed to the harbour of Brest.
In 1775, Marigny was awarded the Order of Saint Louis, and given command of the corvette Serin and of the station of Windward Islands
Windward Islands (Society Islands)
The Windward Islands are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
.
Poisonned by sleeping on his freshly repainted ship, Marigny fell ill for one year and had to resign his command. Once cured, he was given command of the corvette Étourdie, cruising in the Channel for 6 months.
In late 1777, he was appointed to the frigate Belle Poule
French ship Belle Poule (1765)
Belle Poule was a French frigate of the Dédaigneuse class, designed and built by Léon-Michel Guignace, famous for her duel with the English frigate Arethusa on 17 June 1778, which began the French involvement in the American War of Independence....
and tasked with ferrying Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
to the Americas. Frankly was returning from a trip to France in which he had requested French support on behalf of the Congress.
On 7 January 1778, Belle Poulle was intercepted by HMS Hector
HMS Hector (1774)
HMS Hector was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 27 May 1774 at Deptford.She was converted for use as a prison ship in 1808, and was broken up in 1816....
and HMS Courageux at 45° 46 N 8° W. The ships manoeuvered as to take Belle Poule in a crossfire and demanded that Marigny put a boat to sea, which he refused. A British ship then sent a boat and asked "Who are you, where do you come from, where are you sailing?", to which Marigny replied:
After some negotiation, the British officers stated that he had confused Belle Poule for a ship of the revolted colonies masquerading as a French ship.