Pierre François Étienne Bouvet de Maisonneuve
Encyclopedia
Pierre François Étienne Bouvet de Maisonneuve (28 November 1775 – 18 June 1860) was a French
admiral.
Born in Saint-Benoît
, Réunion
, to a family of sailors, Bouvet started sailing at the age of 12 on the Nécessaire. He was midshipman at 17 on the frigate Aréthuse. Arrested with his father in Brest during the Reign of Terror
, he was sent to Paris; they were awaiting trial in Luxembourg prison when the Thermidorian Reaction
occurred.
20-year old Bouvet embarked as lieutenant on the privateer Furet, only to be taken prisoner by the English and sent to Plymouth on a prison hulk. He was captured again five times before joining the crew of Redoutable
, set for Guadeloupe. His behaviour in battle earned him the rank of lieutenant de vaisseau.
On 1 June 1804, Bouvet married his cousin Henriette Perier d'Hauterive. During their marriage, they had 15 children, of whom 10 died in their infancy.
Bouvet later embarked on Atalante, set for the Indian Ocean.
In 1806, Bouvet was prisoner in Bombay, where he observed patamars. Back in Île de France, Bouvet suggested the construction of an armed patamar to Decaen, in order to allow stealth attacks on the British. The ship was built as the 16-gun brig Entreprenant, and captured the Marguerite off Malabar on 23 January 1808.
Decaen promoted Bouvet to capitaine de frégate and gave him command of the Minerve. Between 1808 and 1809, she captured over 30 British merchantmen with their cargoes. He took part in the Battle of Mozambique
on 3 July 1810, and in the Battle of Grand Port
on 20 August 1810, where he assumed command of the French squadron, Duperré having been wounded.
On 12 September 1810, as Bouvet cruised off Mauritius with Iphigénie
and Astrée in an attempt to capture HMS Boadicea
, he encountered HMS Africaine. A night battle ensued, during which Africaine was captured. Her poor shape meant that she was abandoned by the French, and recaptured the next day by Boadicea.
After a leave of a few months, Bouvet sailed again on Aréthuse
. On 6 February 1813, as she sailed with Rubis, Aréthuse met the 38-gun HMS Amelia
. A furious night battle followed; neither ship was able to take the upper hand on her opponent, so Aréthuse and Amelia parted.
In 1815, at 40, he retired in Saint-Servan
. His wife died on 3 July 1830. Three year later, he married Thérèse Pierrette. In 1830, he became liberal deputy of Ille-et-Vilaine
, and the next year, representant of île Bourbon. In 1835, he sat on the General council
. He was promoted to contre-amiral in 1853.
He died in Saint-Servan
in 1860.
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...
admiral.
Born in Saint-Benoît
Saint-Benoît, Réunion
Saint-Benoît is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Réunion, about 40 kilometres southeast of Saint-Denis, the capital.-Geography:...
, Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
, to a family of sailors, Bouvet started sailing at the age of 12 on the Nécessaire. He was midshipman at 17 on the frigate Aréthuse. Arrested with his father in Brest during the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
, he was sent to Paris; they were awaiting trial in Luxembourg prison when the Thermidorian Reaction
Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian Reaction was a revolt in the French Revolution against the excesses of the Reign of Terror. It was triggered by a vote of the Committee of Public Safety to execute Maximilien Robespierre, Antoine Louis Léon de Saint-Just de Richebourg and several other leading members of the Terror...
occurred.
20-year old Bouvet embarked as lieutenant on the privateer Furet, only to be taken prisoner by the English and sent to Plymouth on a prison hulk. He was captured again five times before joining the crew of 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 :...
, set for Guadeloupe. His behaviour in battle earned him the rank of lieutenant de vaisseau.
On 1 June 1804, Bouvet married his cousin Henriette Perier d'Hauterive. During their marriage, they had 15 children, of whom 10 died in their infancy.
Bouvet later embarked on Atalante, set for the Indian Ocean.
In 1806, Bouvet was prisoner in Bombay, where he observed patamars. Back in Île de France, Bouvet suggested the construction of an armed patamar to Decaen, in order to allow stealth attacks on the British. The ship was built as the 16-gun brig Entreprenant, and captured the Marguerite off Malabar on 23 January 1808.
Decaen promoted Bouvet to capitaine de frégate and gave him command of the Minerve. Between 1808 and 1809, she captured over 30 British merchantmen with their cargoes. He took part in the Battle of Mozambique
Action of 3 July 1810
The Action of 3 July 1810 was a minor naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars, in which a French frigate squadron under Guy-Victor Duperré attacked and defeated a convoy of Honourable East India Company East Indiamen near the Comoros Islands...
on 3 July 1810, and in the Battle of Grand Port
Battle of Grand Port
The Battle of Grand Port was a naval battle between squadrons of frigates from the French Navy and the British Royal Navy. The battle was fought during 20–27 August 1810 over possession of the harbour of Grand Port on Île de France during the Napoleonic Wars...
on 20 August 1810, where he assumed command of the French squadron, Duperré having been wounded.
On 12 September 1810, as Bouvet cruised off Mauritius with Iphigénie
HMS Iphigenia (1805)
HMS Iphigenia was a Royal Navy 36-gun Perseverance-class fifth-rate frigate. She was built at Chatham Dockyard by Master Shipwright Robert Seppings....
and Astrée in an attempt to capture HMS Boadicea
HMS Boadicea (1797)
HMS Boadicea was a frigate of the Royal Navy. She served in the Channel and in the East Indies during which service she captured many prizes. She participated in one action for which the Admiralty would award the Naval General Service Medal...
, he encountered HMS Africaine. A night battle ensued, during which Africaine was captured. Her poor shape meant that she was abandoned by the French, and recaptured the next day by Boadicea.
After a leave of a few months, Bouvet sailed again on Aréthuse
French frigate Aréthuse (1812)
The French frigate Aréthuse was a 46-gun 18-pounder frigate of the French Navy. She served during the Napoleonic Wars, took part in the conquest of Algeria and ended her days as a coal depot in Brest.-Cruise off West Africa, 1812-1813:...
. On 6 February 1813, as she sailed with Rubis, Aréthuse met the 38-gun HMS Amelia
HMS Amelia (1796)
Proserpine was a 38-gun Hébé-class frigate of the French Navy captured by on 13 June 1796. The Admiralty commissioned Prosperine into the Royal Navy as the fifth rate, HMS Amelia...
. A furious night battle followed; neither ship was able to take the upper hand on her opponent, so Aréthuse and Amelia parted.
In 1815, at 40, he retired in Saint-Servan
Saint-Servan
Saint-Servan is a town of western France, in Brittany, situated 2 miles from the ferry port of St Malo. It is renowned for its lovely shops and restaurants....
. His wife died on 3 July 1830. Three year later, he married Thérèse Pierrette. In 1830, he became liberal deputy of Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, and the next year, representant of île Bourbon. In 1835, he sat on the General council
General councils (France)
The General councils are assemblies of the French departments. They are elected by universal suffrage.-List of the Presidents of the General councils:-External links:*...
. He was promoted to contre-amiral in 1853.
He died in Saint-Servan
Saint-Servan
Saint-Servan is a town of western France, in Brittany, situated 2 miles from the ferry port of St Malo. It is renowned for its lovely shops and restaurants....
in 1860.
Honours
- Legion of Honour