Jean-Marie de Villeneuve Cillart was a French Navy officer. He served in the War of American Independence. [1]

Biography

Cillart was born in an aristocratic family. His father was captain in a dragoon unit, and two of his brothers, Étienne-François de Cillart de Villeneuve and Armand-François Cillart de Suville, also served in the Navy.[1]

Cillart joined the Navy as a Garde-Marine on 19 March 1756.[2] He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 October 1773, and to Captain on 4 April 1780, effective 9 May 1781.[2][1]

Cillart captained the frigate 32-gun frigate Surveillante, part of the Expédition Particulière under Admiral Ternay, composed of 7 ships of the line,[Note 1] 3 frigates[Note 2] and 36 transports. Surveillante, as vanguard of the squadron, arrived at Boston on 11 June 1780.[4]

From then on, Surveillante was attached to the Ternay's squadron as part of a frigate division Cillart,[2] with his flag on Surveillante, and also comprising Amazone and Hermione,[5] which had been at Boston since 27 April already.[6]

He took part in the Battle of Cape Henry on 16 March 1781.[1]

On 5 June 1781, as Surveillante was arriving at Saint-Domingue from America, she encountered the 48-gun frigate HMS Ulysses. A chased ensued and at 2130, Ulysses caught up with Surveillante. After 2 hours and a half of battle, the frigates broke the engagement.[7][1]

On 24 October 1781, after the Siege of Yorktown, Surveillante brought Gontaut de Lauzun to France to bring the news of the victory. She arrived at Brest on 15 November. [1]

Cillart was killed at the Battle of Quibéron in July 1795. Two of his nephews, Étienne Cillart de Villeneuve and Armand Cillart de Villeneuve, were also killed with him. [1]


Sources and references

Notes

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Contenson (1934), p. 159.
  2. 1 2 3 Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 647.
  3. 1 2 Lacour-Gayet (1910), p. 645.
  4. ↑ Monaque (2000), p. 48.
  5. ↑ Monaque (2000), p. 49.
  6. ↑ Monaque (2000), p. 38.
  7. ↑ Troude (1867), p. 119.

Bibliography

  • Contenson, Ludovic (1934). La Société des Cincinnati de France et la guerre d'Amérique (1778-1783). Paris: éditions Auguste Picard. OCLC 7842336.
  • Hauterive, André Borel; Révérend, Albert (1855). Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe. Vol. 12. Paris: Champion.
  • Lacour-Gayet, Georges (1910). La marine militaire de la France sous le règne de Louis XVI. Paris: Honoré Champion.
  • Monaque, Rémi (2000). Les aventures de Louis-René de Latouche-Tréville, compagnon de La Fayette et commandant de l'Hermione (in French). Paris: SPM.
  • Troude, Onésime-Joachim (1867). Batailles navales de la France (in French). Vol. 2. Challamel ainé.


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