Jean Dupotet
Encyclopedia
Jean Henri Joseph Dupotet (Chaugey
, 17 December 1777 - Paris, 9 January 1852.)
Dupotet was born the first son of a 10-child family. He joined the Navy as a sailor at 16. From May 1795, he served aboard the 32-gun Alceste. Dupotent distinguished himself on 7 August 1795, when the squadron of Alceste attacked and captured the 74-gun HMS Berwick
. He was promoted to midshipman 3rd class and transferred on the Unité.
On 20 April 1796, Unité was captured at Annaba
by HMS Inconstant
, and Dupottet was taken prisoner.
Returned to France, he was promoted to ensign on 3 March 1798. He took part in the Cruise of Bruix
, and served on the Argonaute for a campaign at the Leeward Islands
.
Upon his return, he was promoted to lieutenant, and served as second in command abord the Redoutable
, taking part in the Battle of Trafalgar
. Released after the battle, he was promoted to frigate captain
and served as an aid to Denis Decrès
.
In 1807, he commanded the Charlemagne and Flushing
harbour. In 1809, he took command of the 44-gun Niémen, bound for Bordeaux, only to run into a British frigate squadron blockading Brest. In the resulting Action of 6 April 1809
, Niémen was captured and Dupotet taken prisoner again.
Dupotet remained a prisoner for 5 years before returning to France at the Bourbon restauration. In July 1815, he was given command of the Flore. He subsequently commanded the Gloire and the Jeanne d'Arc, flagship of the Caribbean squadron.
From 1830 and 1834, by then a rear-admiral, Dupotet was governor of Martinique.
In 1839, he commanded the blockade of Buenos Aires, and negotiated with Juan Manuel de Rosas
the next year. He is mentioned in the correspondence of Charles Darwin
Dupotet was promoted to vice-admiral in 1841, and served as general inspector of the harbours of the Atlantic from 1844. He retired the year after.
Chaugey
Chaugey is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, 17 December 1777 - Paris, 9 January 1852.)
Dupotet was born the first son of a 10-child family. He joined the Navy as a sailor at 16. From May 1795, he served aboard the 32-gun Alceste. Dupotent distinguished himself on 7 August 1795, when the squadron of Alceste attacked and captured the 74-gun HMS Berwick
HMS Berwick (1775)
HMS Berwick was a 74-gun Elizabeth-class third rate of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 18 April 1775, to a design by Sir Thomas Slade. She fought the French at the Battle of Ushant and the Dutch at the Battle of Dogger Bank...
. He was promoted to midshipman 3rd class and transferred on the Unité.
On 20 April 1796, Unité was captured at Annaba
Annaba
Annaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 , it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria....
by HMS Inconstant
HMS Inconstant (1783)
HMS Inconstant was a 36-gun Perseverance class fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She had a successful career serving in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, capturing three French warships during the French Revolutionary naval campaigns, the Curieux, the Unité, and the former British...
, and Dupottet was taken prisoner.
Returned to France, he was promoted to ensign on 3 March 1798. He took part in the Cruise of Bruix
Cruise of Bruix
Bruix' expedition of 1799, often called Croisière de Bruix in French sources, was a French naval operation of the French Revolutionary Wars, carried out in May 1799 by admiral Étienne Eustache Bruix. It aimed at sending the naval squadron of Brest to the Mediterranean, gathering Spanish ships on...
, and served on the Argonaute for a campaign at the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
.
Upon his return, he was promoted to lieutenant, and served as second in command abord the Redoutable
French ship Redoutable (1791)
The Redoutable was a Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She is known for her duel with HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar and for killing Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson during the action.- Early career :...
, taking part in the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. Released after the battle, he was promoted to frigate captain
Frigate Captain
Frigate captain is a naval rank in the naval forces of several countries.It is, usually, equivalent to the Commonwealth/US Navy rank of commander.Countries using this rank include Argentina and Spain , France , Belgium , Italy ,...
and served as an aid to Denis Decrès
Denis Decrès
Denis Decrès, , was an officer of the French Navy and count, later duke of the First Empire.-Early career:...
.
In 1807, he commanded the Charlemagne and Flushing
Flushing, Netherlands
Vlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
harbour. In 1809, he took command of the 44-gun Niémen, bound for Bordeaux, only to run into a British frigate squadron blockading Brest. In the resulting Action of 6 April 1809
Action of 6 April 1809
The Action of 6 May 1809 was a small naval battle fought between the French frigate and several British frigates, principally , as part of the blockade of Brest, France during the Napoleonic Wars...
, Niémen was captured and Dupotet taken prisoner again.
Dupotet remained a prisoner for 5 years before returning to France at the Bourbon restauration. In July 1815, he was given command of the Flore. He subsequently commanded the Gloire and the Jeanne d'Arc, flagship of the Caribbean squadron.
From 1830 and 1834, by then a rear-admiral, Dupotet was governor of Martinique.
In 1839, he commanded the blockade of Buenos Aires, and negotiated with Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
the next year. He is mentioned in the correspondence of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
Dupotet was promoted to vice-admiral in 1841, and served as general inspector of the harbours of the Atlantic from 1844. He retired the year after.
External links
- Jean Henri Joseph Dupotet héros de Trafalgar, Bien Public