Jean-Marie Renaud (?— 16 February 1805) was a French Navy officer. He is mainly known as the commander at the

action of 22 October 1794 Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * Action (1921 film), ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * Ac ...

Career

With the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, Renaud commanded the India station, comprising the frigates ''Prudente'' and ''Cybèle'', under Captain Tréhouart, as well as the brig ''Coureur'', under Lieutenant Garaud. In October 1794, île de France was blockaded by the British 50-gun ''Centurion'', under Captain Samuel Osborne, and the 44-gun frigate ''Diomede'', under Captain Matthew Smith. Renaud expressed the opinion that, since the British division was too strong to be defeated outright, he should attempt to inflict such damage to its ships that is would be forced to retreat for repairs and abandon the blockade. Taking responsibility for the operation in his own hands, Governor Malartic ordered Renaud to execute his plan. Backed by local privateers and its crews reinforced by volunteers, the French division attacked, yielding the

, in which Renaud's plan succeeded. The

National Convention The National Convention (french: link=no, Convention nationale) was the parliament of the Kingdom of France for one day and the French First Republic for the rest of its existence during the French Revolution, following the two-year National ...

voted that the French volunteers from île de France and Réunion, and Renaud's division, had ''

bien mérité de la Patrie ''Bien mérité de la Patrie'' (French: "Well deserved the recognition of the Fatherland") is a French expression that qualifies national heroes. During the French Revolution, the phrase became a formula discerned as an award by the National Conven ...

''. In 1795, the corvette ''Pélagie'', under Lieutenant Latour-Cassanhiol, joined Renaud's division. In 1799, Renaud was in charge of the naval station of Guyane, comprising the corvettes ''Aréthuse'' and ''Mutine'', under Lieutenant Reybaud. In 1800, Renaud was in command of the frigate ''Sirène''. He battled two British frigates, and sailed to Cayenne to ferry Commissioner

Victor Hugues Jean-Baptiste Victor Hugues sometimes spelled Hughes (July 20, 1762 in Marseille – August 12, 1826 in Cayenne) was a French politician and colonial administrator during the French Revolution, who governed Guadeloupe from 1794 to 1798, emancipa ...

.Guérin, vol.6, p.211 In 1804, Renaud had been promoted to captain and commanded the heavy frigate ''Ville de Milan''. On 16 February, he encountered the British frigate HMS ''Cleopatra'', and was killed in the ensuing action.

Notes, citations and references

Notes

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References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Renaud, Jean-Marie French military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars French Navy officers