Charles de Bernard de Marigny

Charles de Bernard de Marigny
Born	February 1, 1740(1740-02-01) Sées
Died	July 25, 1816(1816-07-25) (aged 76) Brest
Allegiance	Kingdom of France, First French Republic, First French Empire, Kingdom of France
Service/branch	Navy
Years of service	1754-1816
Rank	Vice admiral

Charles-René-Louis, vicomte de Bernard de Marigny (1 February 1740, Sées - 25 July 1816, Brest) was a French vice admiral, grand-cross of the ordre de Saint-Louis and commander of the Brest fleet.

Biography

Born the fourth boy of an eight-child old but poor family from Normandy, Marigny was destined to an ecclesiastic career, and was soon sent to Sées seminary. However, his temperament did inclined- him more to adventure, and at age 14, he escaped the seminary to find refuge by his older brother who served with the gardes de la marine in Rochefort.

Marigny broke relations with his father and studied to enter the gardes de la marine as well. He was admitted in 1754 and was appointed to the frigate Valeur the next year for a 14-month campaign. He suffered from acute sea sickness, but eventually managed to overcome this issue.

Promoted to ensign in 1757, Marigny was appointed to the corvette Zéphir, and later to the 74-gun Actif, taking part in a campaign to India.

After 40 months, Marigny returned to France on Zodiaque, and served successively on Glorieux, Minotaure, Union, the frigate Légère and the fluyt Garonne. He cruised off Santo Domingo, off Africa, Portugal and India. In 1767, he was promoted to lieutenant and sent in a survey mission on the costs of India. After an eight-month journey, he returned to France with a mémoire for the Ministry of the Navy.

In 1770, Marigny was given command of the scow Dorade, ferrying ammunition from Bayonne to Rochefort. After Dorade was decommissioned, Marigny was appointed to the harbour of Brest.

In 1775, Marigny was awarded the Order of Saint Louis, and given command of the corvette Serin and of the station of Windward Islands.

Poisonned by sleeping on his freshly repainted ship, Marigny fell ill for one year and had to resign his command. Once cured, he was given command of the corvette Étourdie, cruising in the Channel for 6 months.

In late 1777, he was appointed to the frigate Belle Poule and tasked with ferrying Benjamin Franklin to the Americas. Frankly was returning from a trip to France in which he had requested French support on behalf of the Congress.

On 7 January 1778, Belle Poulle was intercepted by HMS Hector and edit] Sources

• (French) Joseph François Gabriel Hennequin, Biographie maritime, vol. 1, Paris, Regnault, 1835, p. 351-63.

Persondata
Name	Marigny
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1 February 1740
Place of birth	Sées
Date of death	25 July 1816
Place of death	Brest