Courbet AAProsper

Courbet, A. A. Prosper, French admiral, born in 1827 at Abbeville, became a captain in 1873, and distinguished himself first as governor of New Caledonia, and, after attaining flag-rank, as naval commander-in-chief at Tonquin, especially by the capture of Soutay. He led the operations against China in 1884, and commanded the bombardment of Foochow on August 23rd. Less than a year later he died at the Peocadous Islands on June 11th, 1885. So highly did his countrymen estimate him that they at once named an ironclad after him.