Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil

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Louis-Philippe Rigaud Marquis de Vaudreuil (October 28, 1724 – December 14, 1802) was second in command of the French navy during the American Revolutionary War

Contents

[edit] Early life

Louis-Philippe's father, of the same name, was born in Québec City of Philippe de Vaudreuil, and his Acadian wife Soulange, so his grand-father was the governor of Quebec (Canada) from 1703 to 1725.

Since Philippe had 12 children in Québec City, many of them are famous. And many of his grand-sons are also famous.

His uncle was none other than Pierre de Vaudreuil de Cavagnal of the capitulation of Montréal in 1760.

Another, named Pierre-François de Vaudreuil was also in the fight with Montcalm.

Louis Philippe, the father, was a celebrated admiral of the French navy, and was in charge of the navy for North America in 1747. Louis XV order a celebrated Dutch artist to paint one of his naval battles; this painting is still in the Versaille Castle.

Although his father Louis-Philippe was born in Québec City and one site tell us that he was himself born in Québec, the truth is probably that he was born in Rochefort in France. This is based on a drawing of the time we have of him where his native city is written: Rochefort, France. This would make more sense, since his father was put in charge of the city of Rochefort in the east coast of France.

[edit] Event of the war

Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil was dispatch in America when the French entered the war on the side of the American in February 1778. His first engagement came at Ouessant an island on the north-ouest part of France near Brest, where the French navy and the British navy fought to a draw. But the British considered this to be a defeated and punished the British Admiral for it.

[edit] The second battle of the Capes in front of Yorktown

Louis-Philippe was on the Septre in the second battle of the Cape. After one furious engagement with the British navy De Grasse and the British navy drifted for miles south of Yorktown and lost sight of each other.

But De Grasse had the brilliant idea to come back to Yorktown faster and when the British saw he was in control of the Bay they didn't attack him. Cornwallis army was trapped. The American won with the French and the united states were freed.

[edit] In front of Yorktown at Gloucester Point

Louis-Philippe original contribution to the American revolution was to provide the cavalry of Duke de Lauzun. This cavalry of foreign legion was a mixed lot of Russian, slavish people, polish and German mercenary to the service of France.

Louis-Philippe also provide 800 man from his ship to glouster point defense a penensula right in front of Yorktown.

Together with Duke de Lauzun they fought the cavalry of Tarleton, the cavalry of the Patriot movie fame with Mel Gibson, and defeated him. This prevented Cornwallis to get help.

With Washington was the French Chastellux, and his aide-de-camp was another of Vaudreuil cousin.

While in Paris Joseph-Hyacinthe de Vaudreuil another cousin was friend of Beaumarchais.

[edit] After Yorktown, The Battle of the Saint

In 1782 in the Battle of the Saint Louis-Philippe is credited with saving most of the French navy ship from a disastrous defeat. But since De Grasse was taken prisonner Vaudreuil became in command of the entire French fleet in America.

[edit] Vaudreuil protecting Boston in 1782

In 1782 after the British defeat at Yorktown and after the Battle of the Saint in 1782, Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil was on the ship Triumphant in Boston harbour. From Boston he order LaPérousse attack of Manitoba by using the James Bay passage. LaPérousse did it and won.

At the conclusion of the war in 1783, Louis-Philippe was in charge of bringing the victorious French army of Rochambeau back to France.


[edit] External links

In the Washington paper you can read the lettres between Washington and Vaudreuil while he was in Boston in 1782. In one of the link you will find a British Carricature of Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil with D'Estaing, Bougainville and De Grasse. The British had just lost their empire to them and were frustrated by them, so after the British victory of the Saint in 1782 they made this. But the joke was on them. The French had won.

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