Léonard-Bernard Motard (; Honfleur, 27 July 1771 – Honfleur, 26 May 1852) was a French naval officer and eventually ''contre-amiral''. Motard enlisted in the

French Navy The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...

in 1786. He was promoted to ensign in 1791, to lieutenant in 1793, and to ''capitaine de frégate'' in 1797. He then served in Brueys's general staff. Motard helped organise the naval component of the

Napoleonic Campaign in Egypt The French invasion of Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) was a military expedition led by Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolutionary Wars. The campaign aimed to undermine British trade routes, expand French influence, and establish a ...

, and took part in the

Battle of the Nile The Battle of the Nile (also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay; ) was fought between the Royal Navy and the French Navy at Abu Qir Bay, Aboukir Bay in Ottoman Egypt, Egypt between 1–3 August 1798. It was the climax of the Mediterranean ca ...

aboard the flagship ''Orient''. He evacuated her before she exploded, but sustained severe injuries and was taken prisoner by the British. After he was released, Motard served as staff officer to Ganteaume, taking part in operations in Saint Domingue. Promoted to ''capitaine the vaisseau'' in 1803, he took command of the 32-gun ''Sémillante'', in Linois' squadron. He took part in the

Battle of Pulo Aura The Battle of Pulo Aura was a minor naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars fought on 14 February 1804, in which a large British East India Company (EIC) convoy intimidated, drove off and chased away a powerful French Navy squadron. Although the ...

on 14 February 1804. On 8 June 1806, ''Sémillante'' captured the East Indiamen ''Acteon'', ''Warren Hastings'', and ''Active''. On 11 November, the encountered and ; an engagement developed on 13 November, from which the British retreated. Between 15 March and 18 March 1808, ''Sémillante'' fought a running battle with HMS ''Terpsichore'', and escaped to Île de France. Motard sustained life-threatening injuries and returned to France. In December 1809, Motard was elevated to commander of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

. In November 1810, he was made a baron of Empire. From 4 January 1811, he headed the ''École spéciale de Marine'' in Toulon. He retired with the rank of ''contre-amiral'' in 1814.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Motard 1771 births 1852 deaths People from Honfleur French Navy admirals French military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars French naval commanders of the Napoleonic Wars Napoleonic Wars prisoners of war held by the United Kingdom French prisoners of war in the Napoleonic Wars Commanders of the Legion of Honour