Charles de Charritte

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Charles de Charritte
Born(1733-11-01)1 November 1733
Pau, France
Died20 October 1815(1815-10-20) (aged 81)
Allegiance Kingdom of France
 Kingdom of the French
 French First Republic
Service/branch French Navy
 French Navy
Years of service1749–1814
RankVice-admiral
Battles/wars
Awards Order of Saint Louis

Charles de Charritte[Note 1] (1 November 1733 in Pau[2][1][3] – 20 October 1815 in Rennes[3]) was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.

Biography[edit]

Charritte was born to the family of a president of the Parliament of Pau, himself a son of Jean-Pierre de Charitte. Charritte joined the Navy as Garde-Marine on 11 October 1749, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 May 1763. [1]

He was promoted to Captain on 14 April 1777, with a service history at the time mentioning "17 cruises, 2 commands, 1 battle".[1]

In 1779, he commanded the 80-gun Auguste as flag captain of Chef d'Escadre Rochechouart, who headed the 2nd Division of the White-and-Blue squadron[4] of the fleet under Orvilliers.[5]

In 1781, he commanded the 74-gun Bourgogne, in the Blue squadron of the fleet under De Grasse.[6] He took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781[2] and in Battle of the Saintes,[7][6] and was later presented a sword by the Estates of Burgundy for saving Bourgogne, which they had financed.[3]

He served as general director of the harbour of Rochefort in 1783.[3][2]

He was promoted to Chef d'Escadre on 1 November 1786 and given command of the 9th Squadron.[8] In 1786, he cruised with the escadre d'évolution with his flag on the frigate Junon.[9] He rose to contre-amiral on 1 January 1792.

During the French Revolution, he retired in Touraine and stayed clear of historical events,[3] although the Directoire called him to be part of the Conseil de la Marine [fr] in Paris in 1799.[2]

During the Bourbon Restoration, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis,[3] and the rank of Vice-amiral on 6 July 1814.[8]

Sources and references[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ Sometimes spelt "Charitte".[1]

Citations

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 (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion.
  • Rabbe; Boisjoslin; Sainte-Preuve (1836). Biographie universelle et portative des contemporains (in French). Challamel ainé.
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.