Jean-Anne Christy de la Pallière
Encyclopedia
Jean-Anne Christy de la Pallière (also written "Christy-Pallière"; Dinan, 1755 - Toulon, 1829) was a French Navy officer.
Born to a captain of the French East India Company
, Christy-Pallière started sailing in 1773, as an apprentice on an East Indiaman. He was ensign in 1774 and cruised to China, and to India in 1776-1777.
In 1778, Christy-Pallière joined the Royal Navy, serving as a lieutenant aboard the Surveillante
. He took part in the Battle of Ushant
.
From February 1779, Christy-Pallière served as an ensign on the Sévère, in Suffren
's squadron. In 1782, he served aboard the Orient
; the ship ran aground as he was on duty and upon his return to France, in 1784, he was expelled from the Navy, in spite of his captain having been on the bridge at the time of the incident.
In 1793, Christy-Pallière was reintegrated in the Navy and promoted to captain. He took command of the Sans Pareil
, and later of the Scévola
.
In January 1794, as a nobleman, Christy-Pallière was relieved of duty, but reintegrated in November. He took command of a frigate division, and later captained the ship Convention.
In 1799, he was general adjudant of the Océan
, supervising the general staff Admiral Bruix
during the expedition of 1799.
He then went on to command the Tyrannicide
, which was renamed Desaix in 1801. On 3 July, Desaix captured HMS Speedy, captained by Lord Cochrane
; brought aboard, Cochrane handed over his sword, which Christy-Pallière refused in recognition of Cochrane's achievements.
Christy-Pallière took part in the ensuing Battle of Algeciras Bay
.
In 1803, Christy-Pallière was put in charge of the military harbour of Brest. From 1805 to 1815, he commanded the harbour of Toulon. He also periodically relieved the préfet maritime
, Jean-Marthe-Adrien l'Hermite
, who was often too ill to serve.
Christy-Pallière was retired on 31 December 1815, reintegrated in March 1816, and retired again at the Bourbon Restoration
, with the honorary rank of contre-amiral.
He died in Toulon in 1829.
Born to a captain of the French East India Company
French East India Company
The French East India Company was a commercial enterprise, founded in 1664 to compete with the British and Dutch East India companies in colonial India....
, Christy-Pallière started sailing in 1773, as an apprentice on an East Indiaman. He was ensign in 1774 and cruised to China, and to India in 1776-1777.
In 1778, Christy-Pallière joined the Royal Navy, serving as a lieutenant aboard the Surveillante
French frigate Surveillante (1778)
Surveillante was an Iphigénie-class 32-gun frigate of the French Navy. She took part in the Naval operations in the American Revolutionary War, where she became famous for her battle with HMS Quebec; in 1783, she brought the news that the war was over to America...
. He took part in the Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1778)
The Battle of Ushant took place on 27 July 1778, during the American War of Independence, fought between French and British fleets 100 miles west of Ushant, a French island at the mouth of the English Channel off the north-westernmost point of France...
.
From February 1779, Christy-Pallière served as an ensign on the Sévère, in Suffren
Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez
Admiral comte Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez, bailli de Suffren , French admiral, was the third son of the marquis de Saint Tropez, head of a family of nobles of Provence which claimed to have emigrated from Lucca in the 14th century...
's squadron. In 1782, he served aboard the Orient
French ship Orient (1756)
Orient was a 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Originally built for the French East India Company, she was purchased for the French Navy in May 1759.In 1778, she was reduced to a 74-gun second rate ....
; the ship ran aground as he was on duty and upon his return to France, in 1784, he was expelled from the Navy, in spite of his captain having been on the bridge at the time of the incident.
In 1793, Christy-Pallière was reintegrated in the Navy and promoted to captain. He took command of the Sans Pareil
HMS Sans Pareil (1794)
HMS Sans Pareil was an 80-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was formerly the French ship Sans Pareil, but was captured in 1794 and spent the rest of her career in service with the British.-French service:...
, and later of the Scévola
French ship Illustre (1781)
The Illustre was a 74-gun Magnanime class ship of the line of the French Navy.She took part in the campaigns of Suffren before staying in Brest between 1788 and 1791. She was razeed into a 44-gun frigate in 1793....
.
In January 1794, as a nobleman, Christy-Pallière was relieved of duty, but reintegrated in November. He took command of a frigate division, and later captained the ship Convention.
In 1799, he was general adjudant of the Océan
French ship Océan (1790)
Océan was a 118-gun first-rate three-decker ship of the line of the French Navy, lead ship of her class.She was ordered as États de Bourgogne and was launched at Brest in 1790...
, supervising the general staff Admiral Bruix
Étienne Eustache Bruix
Étienne Eustache Bruix was a French sailor.-Life:From a distinguished family originating from Béarn, he embarked as a volunteer on a slaving vessel commanded by captain Jean-François Landolphe...
during the expedition of 1799.
He then went on to command the Tyrannicide
French ship Tyrannicide (1793)
Tyrannicide was a 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.In 1794, under Alain Joseph Dordelin, she took part in the Glorious First of June...
, which was renamed Desaix in 1801. On 3 July, Desaix captured HMS Speedy, captained by Lord Cochrane
Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM , styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician....
; brought aboard, Cochrane handed over his sword, which Christy-Pallière refused in recognition of Cochrane's achievements.
Christy-Pallière took part in the ensuing Battle of Algeciras Bay
Battle of Algeciras Bay
The Battle of Algeciras Bay refers to two separate battles in July 1801 between an allied French-Spanish fleet and the British near Gibraltar. In the first battle, the French drove off an attack by the larger British fleet and captured one ship of the line...
.
In 1803, Christy-Pallière was put in charge of the military harbour of Brest. From 1805 to 1815, he commanded the harbour of Toulon. He also periodically relieved the préfet maritime
Préfet Maritime
The Préfet Maritime is a servant of the French State who exercises authority over the sea in one particular region . As a civil servant, he reports to the Prime Minister...
, Jean-Marthe-Adrien l'Hermite
Jean-Marthe-Adrien l'Hermite
Jean-Marthe-Adrien L'Hermitte was a French sea captain and rear admiral, notable for his involvement in the Glorious First of June and various other campaigns.- Early career :L'Hermitte was born to the family of a...
, who was often too ill to serve.
Christy-Pallière was retired on 31 December 1815, reintegrated in March 1816, and retired again at the Bourbon Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
, with the honorary rank of contre-amiral.
He died in Toulon in 1829.
Sources and references
- Quintin (Danielle et Bernard): Dictionnaire des capitaines de vaisseau de Napoléon, S.P.M., Paris 2003
- Hubert Granier: Marins de France au combat (1715–1789)