| Henri-François des Herbiers | |
|---|---|
| Born | 0 December 1682 Angers, France |
| Died | 0 March 1750 (aged 68) Rochefort, France |
| Occupation | Chef d'escadre |
Henri-François des Herbiers, Marquis de L'Estenduère,[1] was born in Angers around 1682 and died in Rochefort in March 1750. He was a Navy Officer and aristocrat in France during the 17th and 18th centuries. Coming from a noble family from Poitou, he began his navigational skills under the direction of his uncle, and began his naval career at an early age in the Marine royale. He distinguished himself for the first time during the War of the Spanish Succession near Vélez-Málaga and then at the Battle of Marbella, before engaging battle as a Privateer. During the 1720s, he undertook many voyages to New France and drew many marine maps of the Saint Lawrence river. He again took part in the wars of the Polish Succession, and the War of the Spanish Succession.
In 1747, he accomplishes his greatest feat at the Battle of Cape Finisterre along the Spanish coast of Galicia. In charge of escorting a merchant convoy to the West Indies with eight ships, he is attacked on October 25 by 14 British ships of Admiral Edward Hawke, and sustained more than seven hours of fierce combat. Six French vessals were captured, but the convoy was almost totally saved. He also manages to avoid being captured when his ship, Le Tonnant with (80 cannons) is partially dismantled. His second in command, marquis de Vaudreuil, on the Intrépide (74 cannon vessal), turns around and traverses British lines, and tows the ship back to Brest during the night. He terminates his career as chef d'escadre.