Henri-François des Herbiers, Marquis de l'Estenduère
Encyclopedia
Henri-François des Herbiers, Marquis de L'Estenduère, was born in Angers
around 1682 and died in Rochefort
in March of 1750. He was a Navy Officer and aristocrat
in France
during the 17th and 18th centuries. Coming from a noble family from Poitou
, he began his navigational skills under the direction of his uncle, and began his naval career at an early age in the Marine royale
. He distinguished himself for the first time during the War of the Spanish Succession
near Vélez-Málaga and then at the Battle of Marbella
, before engaging battle as a Privateer
. During the 1720s, he undertook many voyages to New France
and drew many marine maps of the Saint Lawrence river
. He again took part in the wars of the Polish Succession
, and the War of the Spanish Succession
.
In 1747, he accomplishes his greatest feat at the Battle of Cape Finisterre
along the Spanish coast of Galicia. In charge of escorting a merchant convoy to the West Indies with eight ships, he is attacked on October 25 by 14 British ships of Admiral Edward Hawke, and sustained more than seven hours of fierce combat. Six French vessals were captured, but the convoy was almost totally saved. He also manages to avoid being captured when his ship, Le Tonnant with (80 cannons) is partially dismantled. His second in command, marquis de Vaudreuil
, on the Intrépide (74 cannon vessal), turns around and traverses British lines, and tows the ship back to Brest
during the night. He terminates his career as chef d'escadre
.
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
around 1682 and died in Rochefort
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...
in March of 1750. He was a Navy Officer and aristocrat
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the 17th and 18th centuries. Coming from a noble family from Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
, he began his navigational skills under the direction of his uncle, and began his naval career at an early age in the Marine royale
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
. He distinguished himself for the first time during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
near Vélez-Málaga and then at the Battle of Marbella
Battle of Cabrita point
The Battle of Cabrita Point, usually referred to as the Battle of Marbella, was a naval battle that took place while a combined Spanish-French force besieged Gibraltar on 10 March 1705 during the War of Spanish Succession.The battle was an allied victory which effectively ended the Franco-Spanish...
, before engaging battle as a Privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
. During the 1720s, he undertook many voyages to New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and drew many marine maps of the Saint Lawrence river
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
. He again took part in the wars of the Polish Succession
War of the Polish Succession
The War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
, and the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
In 1747, he accomplishes his greatest feat at the Battle of Cape Finisterre
Second battle of Cape Finisterre (1747)
The Second Battle of Cape Finisterre was a naval battle which took place on 25 October 1747 during the War of the Austrian Succession...
along the Spanish coast of Galicia. In charge of escorting a merchant convoy to the West Indies with eight ships, he is attacked on October 25 by 14 British ships of Admiral Edward Hawke, and sustained more than seven hours of fierce combat. Six French vessals were captured, but the convoy was almost totally saved. He also manages to avoid being captured when his ship, Le Tonnant with (80 cannons) is partially dismantled. His second in command, marquis de Vaudreuil
Louis-Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil
Louis-Philippe de Rigaud, comte de Vaudreuil was a French Navy Officer.-Bibliography:thumb|right|200px|Vaudreuil at the [[Second Battle of Cape Finisterre |Battle of Cap Finisterre]]...
, on the Intrépide (74 cannon vessal), turns around and traverses British lines, and tows the ship back to 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...
during the night. He terminates his career as chef d'escadre
Chef d'escadre
In the ancien Régime French Navy, the rank of chef d'escadre was equivalent to the present-day rank of rear admiral. It was replaced in 1791 by the rank of "contre-amiral" ....
.