François Louis Rousselet de Châteaurenault explained

Honorific Prefix:His Excellency
François-Louis de Châteaurenault
Honorific Suffix:KOHS GCOSL OSLJ
Birth Date:1637
Birth Place:Paris, France
Death Date:15 November 1716
Serviceyears:1661–1716
Rank:Maréchal de France
Vice admiral of the Flotte du Levant
Commands:Flotte du Levant
Battles:
Awards: Order of the Holy Spirit
Order of Saint Louis
Order of Saint Lazarus

François-Louis Rousselet, marquis de Châteaurenault (1637 – 15 November 1716) was a French Navy officer and nobleman. In his youth, he fought in the Battle of the Dunes (1658) against the Spanish. In 1661 he joined the French navy and distinguished himself in the conquest of Jijel under François de Vendôme, duc de Beaufort (23 July 1664). In 1672 he became captain of his own ship and fought in the Mediterranean against the pirates from Salé. In 1673 he led a squadron in the North Sea and fought Michiel de Ruyter in 1675. In 1677, along the Spanish coast and with only six ships, he withstood an attack by a fleet of 25 Dutch ships under Cornelis Evertsen the younger.

During the War of the Grand Alliance (War of the League of Augsburg), he landed a French army in Ireland after beating Admiral Herbert in the Battle of Bantry Bay. One year later, after the failure of this expedition, he evacuated the French army as well as 18.000 Irish. He then fought in the naval Battle of Beachy Head (1690) and the Battle of Lagos (1693). He was made vice-admiral in 1701, and commanded the French fleet during the Battle of Vigo Bay (1702). His flagship was La Forte, which was burnt during the battle.

He became governor of Brittany in 1704. He was made a member of the Order of the Holy Spirit on 2 February 1705.[1] On 7 September 1684 he had married Marie Anne de La Porte, vicomtesse d'Artois and dame de Crozon (1661–1696). His only son, Louis Emmanuel, also pursued a career in the French Navy. A number of ships of the French navy have been named Châteaurenault in his honour. Further, a street in Rennes has been named after him.

References

  1. http://www.heraldique-europeenne.org/Armoriaux/Saint_Esprit/1705 Order of the Saint-Esprit, 1705

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