The Comte d'Estaing

Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, Comte d'Estaing was born November 24, 1729, in the south-central region of France. Coming from a lifelong military family, his father was a lieutenant for the French Army. At nine, he was placed into the musketeers and rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant at seventeen.

In 1746, his regiment saw action in the War of Austrian Succession. He was promoted to colonel and wounded during a siege.

His regiment sailed to Cuddalore, British-occupied South India during the French and Indian War in 1755, and engaged in combat against the Royal Navy. After placing a siege on British territory, the French and the Royal navy faced in combat. D'Estaing was quickly surrounded by the British, wounded twice, forced to surrender, and taken prisoner by the British governor.

Upon release, he continued his service by commanding fleets for the French East India Company. After the French and Indian War, d'Estaing served as governor of the Caribbean Leeward Islands for two years (1764-1766). He returned to France and, in 1777, was appointed Vice Admiral of the Asian and American seas.

The following year, in 1778, France signed the Franco-American alliance, agreeing to support the colonies in the American Revolution. Determined to help the colonies, d'Estaing left France with sixteen ships—mostly ships of the line—and 4,000 men. He arrived in July and began blockading William Howe's fleet in New York Harbor.

planned a coordinated attack agains the British on Newport, Rhode Island.

He began corresponding with colonial generals, including George Washington, and planned a coordinated attack on Newport, Rhode Island. According to the plan, d'Estaing would draw the British fleet out to sea and engage in a naval battle; in doing so, the navy could not provide reinforcements and supplies to the British army.

D'Estaing's fleet successfully drew the British out to sea, but a violent storm separated the fleets. With his fleet damaged, he sailed to the West Indies for repairs. Upon arrival, a fleet under British Admiral John Byron began engaging in a series of skirmishes with the French forces, culminating in the British capturing the French-held island of St. Lucia in early 1779. In return, d’Estaing seized the British isle of Saint Vincent in June, followed by Grenada in July. 

The British ships Fame, Lion were badly mauled by the French

During the summer of 1779, both fleets received reinforcements. Admiral Byron’s fleet now consisted of 22 ships to d’Estaing’s 25. The French Comte set a brilliant trap for the British in Grenada by weighing anchor when the British fleet was first spotted at 4 am one morning. He ordered his ships to form a line of battle in order of speed and head northward. This masked the true strength of the French fleet as it left the anchorage. Believing his force superior, Byron gave the order for a general chase, approaching the cluster from the northeast.

When Byron finally realized the ploy, he desperately attempted to reform a battle line, but the British attack was now disordered and confused. The British ships Fame, Lion, and two others were separated from the main body and badly mauled by the French. D’Estaing lost no ships and was quickly recognized as a brilliant Admiral.

"After my head falls off, send it to the English, they will pay a good deal for it!"

In 1779, d'Estaing left the West Indies defeated and sailed toward Savannah, Georgia. With his newly repaired fleet, he joined the colonial navy to lay siege to Savannah.  From September to October, the French and Americans worked together, the navy bombarded the forts, and the army planned a significant assault.

The assault on Savannah failed, and d'Estaing suffered severe injuries and was forced to end the blockade. He returned to France in 1780 and was replaced by Admiral de Grasse.

While in France, he participated in politics on the royal family's side. In 1789, the French Revolution began, and the people targeted him due to his support and friendship with the queen. In 1794, he was placed on trial and sent to the guillotine despite supporting social reforms.

D'Estaing last words before he was beheaded were, "After my head falls off, send it to the English, they will pay a good deal for it!"