Jacques Cassard
Encyclopedia
Jacques Cassard was a French
naval officer and privateer.
In 1700, Cassard became a merchantman captain. The next year, the War of the Spanish Succession
broke out, and Cassard converted to a privateer
. In 1705, he captained the privateer Saint Guillaume, capturing 12 merchantmen and raiding Cork
. Two years later, he captured 13 merchantmen with the Duchesse Anne, earning a rank in the Navy.
In 1709, Cassard, promoted to Commander, was tasked to escort a 25-ship food convoy on the 68-gun Éclatant. On 29 April, supported by Sérieux, he defeated five English ships, allowing the convoy to safely reach Marseille.
The next year, Cassard lead a squadron comprising the 74-gun Parfait, the 58-gun Sérieux and the 50-gun Phénix and the 60-gun Sirène, with his flag on Parfait. He was tasked to escort a 84-ship convoy inbound from Smyrna
that had become blockaded at Syracuse by a British fleet. He captured HMS Pembroke
, while Sérieux secured the surrender of the 32-gun HMS Falcon in the 9 November Battle of Syracuse
. The convoy reach Toulon.
In 1711, Cassard again secured the way for a 43-ship convoy bound for Pensacola
.
In December 1711, Cassard obtained the command of a 6-ship squadron and embarked an expedition
in which he raided English, Dutch and Portuguese colonies in Cape Verde and in the Caribbean
.
After the Treaty of Utrecht and the end of the war in 1713, Cassard started numerous trials to obtain payments.
Cassard retired in 1731. In 1736, he was declared insane after insulting the Cardinal de Fleury, and detained in Ham
, where he died four years later.
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...
naval officer and privateer.
Biography
Born on 30 September 1679 to a family of merchants of Nantes, Cassard began a career as a sailor at age 14 on the merchantmen owned by his family. In January 1697, he joined the French Navy on bombship Éclatante.In 1700, Cassard became a merchantman captain. The next year, 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...
broke out, and Cassard converted to 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...
. In 1705, he captained the privateer Saint Guillaume, capturing 12 merchantmen and raiding Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Two years later, he captured 13 merchantmen with the Duchesse Anne, earning a rank in the Navy.
In 1709, Cassard, promoted to Commander, was tasked to escort a 25-ship food convoy on the 68-gun Éclatant. On 29 April, supported by Sérieux, he defeated five English ships, allowing the convoy to safely reach Marseille.
The next year, Cassard lead a squadron comprising the 74-gun Parfait, the 58-gun Sérieux and the 50-gun Phénix and the 60-gun Sirène, with his flag on Parfait. He was tasked to escort a 84-ship convoy inbound from Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
that had become blockaded at Syracuse by a British fleet. He captured HMS Pembroke
HMS Pembroke (1694)
HMS Pembroke was a 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford on 22 November 1694.Pembroke was captured in 1709, recaptured in 1711, and finally sold to Spain in Genoa in 1713 and renamed Lanfranco. She saw action in the siege of Barcelona under D...
, while Sérieux secured the surrender of the 32-gun HMS Falcon in the 9 November Battle of Syracuse
Battle of Syracuse (1710)
The Battle of Syracuse was a naval engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession fought on 9 November 1710, outside the Sicilian port of Syracuse. A French fleet of four ships under the command of Jacques Cassard came to relieve a heavily-laden French merchant fleet that had been blockaded in...
. The convoy reach Toulon.
In 1711, Cassard again secured the way for a 43-ship convoy bound for Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
.
In December 1711, Cassard obtained the command of a 6-ship squadron and embarked an expedition
Cassard expedition
The Cassard expedition was a sea voyage by French Navy captain Jacques Cassard in 1712, during the War of the Spanish Succession. Departing from the port of Toulon with a fleet of eight ships, 3,000 seamen, and 1,200 soldiers, he raided and pillaged the Cape Verde Islands, the British-controlled...
in which he raided English, Dutch and Portuguese colonies in Cape Verde and in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
After the Treaty of Utrecht and the end of the war in 1713, Cassard started numerous trials to obtain payments.
Cassard retired in 1731. In 1736, he was declared insane after insulting the Cardinal de Fleury, and detained in Ham
Ham, Somme
Ham is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Ham is situated on the D930 and D937 crossroads, some southwest of Saint-Quentin, in the far southeast of the department, near the border with the department of the Aisne....
, where he died four years later.
Honours
- Knight in the Order of Saint LouisOrder of Saint LouisThe Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
(1719) - Numerous ships of the French Navy named CassardFrench ship CassardEleven ships of the French Navy have born the name Cassard in honour of Jacques Cassard:* the Cassard , a Téméraire class ship of the line also known as Dix-Août* the Cassard , a small craft...
after him