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

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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

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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

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. 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

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. 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