Duguay

Duguay Trouin, Rene, the most celebrated of French privateers, was born at St. Malo in 1673, and after leading a very irregular life, embarked in 1689 in a privateer frigate belonging to some of his relatives. In 1691 he was given a ship of his own, and almost immediately landed on the coast of Clare and burnt a couple of vessels. In 1692 he obtained a commission from the ex-king of England, James II., and at once became very successful. He afterwards commanded several French men-ofwar that had been lent by Louis to be used as privateers, and in the Diligente, 36, he was captured in 1694 by an English squadron. But he speedily broke away from Plymouth, where he was detained, and resumed his cruises, this time at the head of a squadron of privateers. He made some handsome prizes, and fought several most creditable actions with men-of-war and Indiamen. These exploits brought him into favour with the king. He gained further successes against the Dutch, and was in 1697 adopted into the French royal navy with the rank of frigate-captain. Upon the resumption of war in 1702 he continued his brilliant services, was ennobled in 1709, and was raised to flag rank in 1715. In 1726 he was made lieutenant-general (vice-admiral), and in 1736, older in honours than in years, he died.