Victor-Louis Desmichels de Champorcin

Victor-Louis Desmichels de Champorcin ( 4 October 1724 — Battle of Grenada, 6 July 1779)[1] was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.

Biography

Champorcin was born to the family of Thérèse de Brouchier and of Henry Desmichel, governor of Digne.[1] He joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine in January 1742.[1]

He served on the 26-gun frigate Flore, part of a division under Caylus, and took part in the Action of 6 August 1741.[1][2]

Champorcin was promoted to Ensign in 1748, and served on the 24-gun frigate Galatée, under Tourville, and Mutine, under Des Roches. He rose to Lieutenant in 1756.[1]

In 1758, he was appointed to the 80-gun Foudroyant, on which he took part in the Battle of Cartagena on 28 February 1758. He was taken prisoner when Foudroyant was captured by Monmouth, Hampton Court and Swiftsure.[3]

Champorcin rose to Commander in 1767, and to Captain on 1772.[1]

In May 1777, Champorcin captained the 64-gun Provence, based at Toulon.[4] The next year, he was promoted to Brigadier,[1] and Provence was appointed to the squadron under Estaing, bound for America.[5][6] At the Battle of Rhode Island, Provence and Protecteur, under Dapchon, remained at sea to blockade Newport and prevent British relief to reach the city.[7] He was killed at the Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779.[8]

First officer Garnier de Saint-Antonin took over command of Provence.[8] Lacour-Gayet cited Champorcin as an example of the younger generation of officers who revitalised the French Navy after the nadir under Louis XV.[9]

Sources and references

Notes

References

1. Rouxel.
2. Roche (2005), p. 205, volume 1.
3. Colledge. Ships of the Royal Navy. p. 132.
4. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 610.
5. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 630.
6. Troude (1867), p. 12.
7. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 164.
8. Contenson (1934), p. 255.
9. Lacour-Gayet (1905), p. 139.

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.
• Roche, Jean-Michel (2005). Dictionnaire des bâtiments de la flotte de guerre française de Colbert à nos jours. 1. Group Retozel-Maury Millau. pp. 372–373. ISBN 978-2-9525917-0-6. OCLC 165892922.
• Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). 2. Challamel ainé. OCLC 836362484.

External links

• Archives nationales (2011). "Fonds Marine, sous-série B/4: Campagnes, 1571-1785" (PDF). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
• Rouxel, Jean-Christophe. "Victor Louis DESMICHELS de CHAMPORCIN". Parcours de vie dans la Royale. Retrieved 27 May 2020.