Bart

Bart, or Barth, Jean, one of the most famous and successful of French naval officers, the son of a fisherman of Dunkirk, where he was born in 1651. As a boy he served on board various armed coasters, and as a young man he went to Holland and fought under the celebrated De Ruyter. With him he acquired a little money, and was enabled to purchase a privateer of two guns, in which, in 1674, he cruised off the Texel, France and Holland being at that time at war. Bart's first exploit was the capture by boarding of a Dutch 18-gun sloop. This recommended him to the merchants of his native town. They subscribed to place him in command of the 10-gun sloop Esperance, in which he took a Dutch 12-gun ship, another Dutch 18-gun ship, and a large and valuable convoy. The merchants were so delighted that they next fitted out five vessels, and gave the command of the whole squadron to Bart. He sailed in 1676, and in that year and the next made numerous prizes. His repeated gallantry gained him the notice of Louis XIV., who rewarded him with a gold chain and medal, and a commission as lieutenant in the French royal navy. As such, but in command of a ship, he cruised, with his usual success, against the Barbary corsairs. In 1683, as captain of a frigate, he greatly distinguished himself in the action between the French and Spanish fleets off Cadiz, and in 1688 he was again in action with the Dutch, this time in company with another noted French seaman, the Chevalier Forbin. He also served against the English, but, with Forbin, had the misfortune to be taken prisoner and carried into Plymouth, whence the two officers promptly escaped. In 1690 Bart commanded the Alcion in De Tourville's fleet, and took part in the Battle of Beachy Head. In the following year, with Forbin, he cruised in command of a small squadron, made many captures, and was on his return made a chef d'escadre, or commodore. After the battle off La Hogue, in which he had no share, he again went to sea, breaking for a second time the English blockade of Dunkirk in order to leave port. He took rich prizes, made an alarming descent near Newcastle, killed the Dutch Admiral Devries and captured part of his squadron, and was, as a reward, ennobled. He went to sea more than once afterwards, but upon the conclusion of the Peace of Ryswick retired from the service. He died of pleurisy in 1702. Bart stands almost alone amongst French seamen. He was illiterate and rude, but he was singularly brave, and, owing to the independence of his character, he was never bound by the traditions which have usually confined French naval operations. This is, perhaps, why he was so successful.