Bernard Desjean, Baron de Pointis

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Bernard Desjean, Baron de Pointis (Brittany ,1645 - Paris, April 24, 1707) was a French admiral and privateer.

He took part in naval operations in the 1680's under Duquesne, like the bombardment of Algiers and the punitive action against Genova. In the 1690's he fought under Tourville among others in the Battle of Beachy Head (1690).

In 1693 he became chef d'escadre. In 1697 he undertook his greatest expedition : the Raid on Cartagena. This raid was so successful that it made him immensely rich and very appreciated by King Louis XIV.

In 1702 , after the death of Jean Bart , he was appointed head of the Dunkirk Raiders , but he was soon replaced by Marc-Antoine de Saint-Pol Hécourt for lack of initiative.

In 1705 he tried to attack Gibraltar by sea, but was completly defeated by John Leake in the Battle of Cabrita point. After this battle Pointis retired from active service.

He published "Relation de l'expedition de Carthagene faite par les Français en 1697"

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Pointis and the raid on Carthagena