Jean-Georges du Croiset de Retz

Gaspard de Ligondès was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.[1]

Biography

Retz was born to a family from Auvergne. He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in 1741. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1756, to Commander in 1767, to Captain in 1772.[1]

In 1779, Retz captained the 64-gun Vengeur,[1] part of the division under De Grasse sent to D'Estaing as reinforcement.[2] Retz was wounded at the Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779,[1][3][4] and took part in the Siege of Savannah in September and October 1779.[5] He also fought in the Battle of Martinique on 17 April 1780,[6] where Vengeur, along with Destin and Saint Michel, directly engaged the much stronger Sandwich, under Rodney, HMS Cornwall and HMS Suffolk.[7]

In 1781, Retz captained the 74-gun Zodiaque in Brest.[8] In 1782, he transferred to Robuste.[9] The same year, he was promoted to Brigadier.[1]

Retz retired from the Navy with the rank of Chef d'Escadre in 1786.[1]

Sources and references

Notes

    Citations

    1. Contenson (1934), p. 167.
    2. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 636.
    3. Troude (1867), p. 39.
    4. Troude (1867), p. 41.
    5. Troude (1867), p. 42.
    6. Troude (1867), p. 71.
    7. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 338.
    8. Archives nationales (2011), p. 296.
    9. Archives nationales (2011), p. 319.

    Bibliography

    • Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
    • Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1905). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion. OCLC 763372623.
    • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). 2. Challamel ainé.

    External links

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