Pierre-René-Bénigne-Mériadec de Roux de Bonneval (
Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Ais de Provença in classical norm, or in Mistralian norm, ; la, Aquae Sextiae), or simply Aix ( medieval Occitan: ''Aics''), is a city and commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. ...
, 1741 —
Marseille, 1814)
was a French Navy officer. He served in the
War of American Independence, and became a member of the
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...
.
Biography
Bonneval was born to Marie Elisabeth du Trousset d'Héricourt and to Pierre Joseph Hilarion Ruffo de Bonneval, a military officer. His brother
Charles Marie Joseph Isidore Bénigne Ruffo de la Fare also served in the Navy.
Bonneval joined the Navy as a Garde du Pavillon in 1756, He was promoted to Ensign in 1757.
He took part in the
Battle of Minorca on 20 May 1756. The year after, he served on the 80-gun
''Foudroyant'', and he was wounded and taken prisoner at the
Battle of Cartagena on 28 February 1758.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1770, and made a Knight in the
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis (french: Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis) is a dynastic order of chivalry founded 5 April 1693 by King Louis XIV, named after Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France). It was intended as a rewar ...
in 1775. On 27 September 1774, he married Elisabeth de Saint Jacques. They have a son,
Pierre Joseph Hippolyte Ruffo de Bonneval, who also served in the Navy.
In 1778, he commanded the 26-gun frigate
''Alcmène'' in the squadron under
Estaing to take part in the
War of American Independence. He took part in the
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island (also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill) took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and Militia forces under the command of Major General John Sullivan had been besieging the British forces in Newport, Rhode Isl ...
on 29 August 1778, in the
Battle of St. Lucia on 15 December 1778, and in the
Battle of Grenada on 6 July 1779.
In 1780, he disembarked at Toulon due to illness. He was given command of
''Précieuse'' in 1782. From 1784, he served as Major de la Marine in Toulon. On 1 December 1789, he took a sabre blow to the head during the riots of Toulon.
Works
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* ''Carte corrigée du Golphe de Smirne'' (1784
''Carte générale du passage des Dardanelles''(1784
''Plan de générale du canal de la Mer Noire''(1784
* ''Plan du Port de Navarin'' (1784
* ''Plan du Mouillage de Coron'' (1784
''Plan de générale du canal de la Mer Noire''(1784
Sources and references
Notes
References
Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonneval, Pierre-René-Bénigne-Mériadec
1741 births
1814 deaths
French Navy officers