A French naval officer who played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War, helping the Continental Army secure victory at Yorktown. He's also known for his bravery during the French Revolution.
Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte, better known as La Motte-Picquet, is renowned for his remarkable 50-year career in the French Navy, during which he participated in an astonishing 34 campaigns. As an accomplished admiral, he played a pivotal role in the Seven Years War and the Naval battles of the American Revolutionary War, earning him the prestigious ranks of Commandeur and Grand Cross in the Order of Saint Louis.
La Motte-Picquet joined the Gardes de la Marine in Brest at the tender age of 15, in 1735. Just two years later, he served on the frigate Vénus in a campaign against the Barbary corsairs of Salé. His swift rise through the ranks was a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication, becoming sous-brigadier des gardes de la marine in 1743 and aide d'artillerie later that year.
La Motte-Picquet's bravery and strategic prowess were evident during the War of the Austrian Succession. In 1745, he transferred to the frigate Renommée, under Captain Guy François de Kersaint, and embarked on a perilous mission to ferry despatches to Louisbourg, which was then blockaded by the British. Despite the odds, the frigate managed to anchor at Baie des Castors, where La Motte-Picquet fought off several smaller British ships.
In 1746, during the same war, La Motte-Picquet displayed his exceptional leadership skills when he took command of Renommée after Captain Kersaint was gravely wounded in a battle with a British squadron under Admiral George Anson. La Motte-Picquet's injuries, including a severe cheek wound caused by a cannonball, did not deter him from successfully escaping to Port-Louis.
La Motte-Picquet's exemplary service during the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War earned him numerous accolades. In 1780, he was appointed Commandeur in the Order of Saint Louis, and four years later, he was promoted to Grand Cross in the same order.
La Motte-Picquet's remarkable career spanned five decades, during which he served under two French monarchs, Louis XV and Louis XVI. He passed away on June 10, 1791, in Brest, during the tumultuous French Revolution.
Today, La Motte-Picquet is remembered as one of the most illustrious French Navy officers in history, celebrated for his unwavering dedication, bravery, and exceptional leadership skills. His legacy continues to inspire generations of naval officers and historians alike.
Born in 1729
French admiral and explorer who led the first French expedition to circumnavigate the globe, discovering several Pacific islands and introducing Tahitian natives to Europe. He's also the namesake of the bougainvillea flower.
