Robert Surcouf, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Robert Surcouf

French privateer

Date of Birth: 12-Dec-1773

Place of Birth: Saint-Malo, Brittany, France

Date of Death: 08-Jul-1827

Profession: writer, military personnel, privateer, shipowner, slave trader

Nationality: France

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius


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About Robert Surcouf

  • Robert Surcouf (12 December 1773 – 8 July 1827) was a French privateer who operated in the Indian Ocean between 1789 and 1801, and again from 1807 to 1808, capturing over 40 prizes, while amassing a large fortune as a ship-owner, from both privateering and commerce.Surcouf started his career as a sailor and officer on the slave ships Aurore, Courrier d'Afrique and Navigateur.
  • Having risen to captain, and in spite of the prohibition of slave trading by the National Convention in 1793, he engaged in the business himself as a captain on CrĂ©ole.
  • He then captained the merchantman Émilie, on which he engaged in commerce raiding despite lacking a letter of marque.
  • He preyed on British shipping, capturing the East Indiaman Triton, before returning to ĂŽle de France in the Indian Ocean, where his prizes were confiscated.
  • He then returned to France, where he obtained prize money from the government. Returning to the Indian Ocean, Surcouf captained the privateers Clarisse and Confiance, raiding British, American, and Portuguese merchantmen.
  • He captured the East Indiaman Kent on 7 October 1800.
  • Returning to France, he was awarded the Legion of Honour and settled as a ship-owner. He briefly returned to the Indian Ocean in 1807 on the custom-built Revenant before returning to France.
  • There, he armed privateers and merchantmen.
  • His privateers led successful campaigns against the British in the Indian Ocean and disastrous ones in the English Channel, except for Renard.
  • This cutter achieved fame in her very costly victory over HMS Alphea on 9 September 1812 which exploded after repulsing French attempts at boarding.
  • There were many casualties.
  • After the Bourbon restoration, he organised fishing expeditions to Newfoundland and amassed a considerable fortune.
  • He died in 1827 and is buried in a graveyard at Saint-Malo.

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