The other night I was talking with a friend about plans for the Fourth of July. A group of us are celebrating together, all bringing something to the potluck. My friend is preparing a cheese board for the celebration. Thinking the French helped the American Revolutionaries, he wants to include a French selection or two among the cheeses! I wholeheartedly agreed. The French did help the Continental Army; I think they deserve a bit of an homage.
We got to talking about General Lafayette who served as a major-general in the Continental Army under George Washington. We were trying to recall the name of the French Naval commander who helped the Franco-American alliance.
Well, his name is Louis Gillouet, Comte d'Orvilliers. Living from 1708-1792, he was a French admiral, born in Moulins, Allier, spending his childhood in Cayenne, capital of French Guiana where his father was governor.
In 1723, he joined the colony's infantry regiment, and rose to rank of Lieutenant. In 1728, he transferred to the Navy and by 1759 he was a Captain, commanding ships sailing to Minorca. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1764. In 1777, the French began helping the American colonies in their fight for independence. d'Orvilliers was appointed Lieutenant General of the Navy, and went after the Brits. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Ushant (1778) fending off the English fleet. He later led an unsuccessful raid on Portsmouth and Plymouth in England, and was berated for not making better use of his forces. He resigned his command! So French, isn't it?!
His name comes from the Breton language, a form of Celtic, meaning "man from the woods".
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