Duguay-Trouin, RENÉ

Duguay-Trouin, RENÉ, one of the most celebrated naval officers of France, was born 10th June 1673, at St Malo. From 1689 to 1697 he cruised about as a sort of privateer, inflicting immense damage on the enemies of France. Louis XIV., as a reward for his daring exploits, admitted him into the state navy, and gave him the command of a frigate. In 1707 he engaged a part of the English fleet at the entrance of the Channel, burned one ship, captured three others, and about sixty tran- sports; but the most glorious of his triumphs was the attack and capture of Rio Janeiro in 1711, with a small fleet, after hostilities had lasted for eleven days. The city was ransomed for 610,000 crusados (£96,000). For this he was ennobled, and was successively named chef d'escadre, member of the council of state, lieutenant-general, and naval commandant at Brest. In 1731 he was sent into the Levant, to obtain reparation for the damages done to French commerce. He died 27th September 1736. See his Mémoires by Beauchamps (4 vols. Paris, 1740; Eng. trans. 1742), and Life by La Landelle (2d ed. 1876).