Charles de Charritte

Charles de Charritte[Note 1] (Pau,[2][1] 1 November 1733[3] – Rennes, 20 October 1815[3]) was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence.

Charles de Charritte
Born	1 November 1733 Pau, France
Died	20 October 1815 (aged 81)
Allegiance	Kingdom of France  Kingdom of the French  French First Republic
Service/branch	French Navy  French Navy
Years of service	1749–1814
Rank	Vice-admiral
Battles/wars	Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War Battle of the Saintes
Awards	Order of Saint Louis

Biography

Charritte was born to the family of a president of the Parliament of Pau, himself a son of Jean-Pierre de Charitte. Charritte joined the Navy as Garde-Marine on 11 October 1749, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 May 1763. [1]

He was promoted to Captain on 14 April 1777, with a service history at the time mentioning "17 cruises, 2 commands, 1 battle".[1]

In 1779, he commanded the 80-gun Auguste as flag captain of Chef d'Escadre Rochechouart, who headed the 2nd Division of the White-and-Blue squadron[4] of the fleet under Orvilliers.[5]

In 1781, he commanded the 74-gun Bourgogne, in the Blue squadron of the fleet under De Grasse.[6] He took part in the Battle of the Chesapeake on 5 September 1781[2] and in Battle of the Saintes,[7][6] and was later presented a sword by the Estates of Burgundy for saving Bourgogne, which they had financed.[3]

He served as general director of the harbour of Rochefort in 1783.[3][2]

He was promoted to Chef d'Escadre on 1 November 1786 and given command of the 9th Squadron.[8] In 1786, he cruised with the escadre d'évolution with his flag on the frigate Junon.[9] He rose to contre-amiral on 1 January 1792.

During the French Revolution, he retired in Touraine and stayed clear of historical events,[3] although the Directoire called him to be part of the Conseil de la Marine in Paris in 1799.[2]

During the Bourbon Restoration, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis,[3] and the rank of Vice-amiral on 6 July 1814.[8]

Sources and references

Notes

1. Sometimes spelt "Charitte".[1]

Citations

1. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 619.
2. Contenson (1934), p. 156.
3. Rabbe, Boisjoslin & Sainte-Preuve (1836), p. 899.
4. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 129.
5. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 639.
6. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 648.
7. Troude (1867), p. 140.
8. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 665.
9. Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 589.

Bibliography

• Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
• Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion.
• Rabbe; Boisjoslin; Sainte-Preuve (1836). Biographie universelle et portative des contemporains (in French). Challamel ainé.
• Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). 2. Challamel ainé.