Jean-Francois Hodoul

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Jean-Francois Hodoul (1766-1835) was a corsair who worked in the employ of the French government. In the 1790s he was primarily a captain transporting slaves from Africa to the Indian Ocean colonies of Ile Bourbon (Réunion) and Ile de France (Mauritius).

In 1797 he is credited with capturing and plundering seven British ships, in which he amassed a large amount of treasure consisting of pearls, piasters and gold. In 1800 he was captured by the British and imprisoned in Calcutta. He was released after the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. After his release, he settled on Mahe Island in the Seychelles. There he became a wealthy businessman and plantation owner. He owned several ships which traded goods between the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Today in the harbor of Victoria, Mahe is a small islet named for him; “Ile Hodoul”. Also legend has it that Hodoul's treasure is buried on Silhouette Island, northwest of Mahe.