Jean-François de Sabran, comte de La Clue (known as "La Clue-Sabran"; 30 September 1696 – 4 October 1764) was a
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
naval officer best known for his command of the French fleet in the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
during the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...
.
Seven Years War
He was appointed ''chef d'escadre'' (the lowest level of general officer in the French Navy) on 25 September 1755. After attempting to sail to the relief of
Louisbourg
Louisbourg is an unincorporated community and former town in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia.
History
The French military founded the Fortress of Louisbourg in 1713 and its fortified seaport on the southwest part of the harbour, ...
in 1758 he was trapped in the neutral Spanish harbour of
Cartagena. Following the
Battle of Cartagena La Clue returned to Toulon, abandoning his attempt to relieve Louisbourg.
In 1759 as part of a French
plan to invade the British Isles La Clue sailed from Toulon hoping to escape through the
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar ( ar, مضيق جبل طارق, Maḍīq Jabal Ṭāriq; es, Estrecho de Gibraltar, Archaic: Pillars of Hercules), also known as the Straits of Gibraltar, is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Medi ...
and join with the other main French fleet at
Brest
Brest may refer to:
Places
*Brest, Belarus
**Brest Region
**Brest Airport
**Brest Fortress
*Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria
*Břest, Czech Republic
*Brest, France
**Arrondissement of Brest
**Brest Bretagne Airport
** Château de Brest
*Brest, ...
. He was caught by a patrolling British fleet under
Edward Boscawen
Admiral of the Blue Edward Boscawen, PC (19 August 171110 January 1761) was a British admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament for the borough of Truro, Cornwall, England. He is known principally for his various naval commands during ...
and defeated at the
Battle of Lagos
The naval Battle of Lagos took place between a British fleet commanded by Sir Edward Boscawen and a French fleet under Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran over two days in 1759 during the Seven Years' War. They fought south west of the Gulf of C ...
off
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
. The battle, along with the
Battle of Quiberon Bay
The Battle of Quiberon Bay (known as ''Bataille des Cardinaux'' in French) was a decisive naval engagement during the Seven Years' War. It was fought on 20 November 1759 between the Royal Navy and the French Navy in Quiberon Bay, off the coast ...
later in the year, ended any immediate chance of a successful French invasion.
Following the conclusion of the war, La Clue-Sabran retired from the Navy in 1764 with the rank of ''lieutenant-général des armées navales''. He died later the same year.
Bibliography
* McLynn, Frank. ''1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World''. Pimlico, 2005.
* Rodger, N. A. M.. ''Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649–1815''. Penguin Books, 2006.
{{DEFAULTSORT:La Clue-Sabran, Jean-Francois de
1696 births
1764 deaths
French military personnel of the Seven Years' War
French Navy admirals