Biography

Born to a family of sailors, Martin joined the French Royal Navy in 1767. he served in the Mediterranean against Barbary pirates.

He later served as a pilot aboard the Fantasque

French ship Fantasque (1758)

The Fantasque was a 64-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. She is famous for being the ship of Suffren during the American war of independence.-See also:* French ship Fantasque for other ships of the same name...

, taking part in the campaigns of Admiral d'Estaing

Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing

Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, comte d'Estaing was a French general, and admiral. He began his service as a soldier in the War of the Austrian Succession, briefly spending time as a prisoner of war of the British during the Seven Years' War...

 in the American War of Independence. He later received command of a coastguard sloop, and received an honour sword after fighting a British privateer on 6 October 1780.

Promoted to lieutenant in January 1792, Martin served on Junon

French frigate Junon (1778)

The Junon was a 32-gun Charmante class frigate of the French NavyShe took part in the Battle of Ushant under Admiral d'Orvilliers. She captured HMS Fox on 11 September 1778....

 before taking command of the corvette Rossignol in 1796. In June, he was promoted to commander, and successively captained the frigates Fauvette and Sérieuse

French frigate Sérieuse (1779)

The Sérieuse was a Magicienne class frigate of the French Navy.In 1781, she ferried soldiers after the Invasion of Minorca.She was at Toulon when the British captured the city...

.

On Sérieuse, Martin took part in the Battle of the Nile

Battle of the Nile

The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between British and French fleets at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1–3 August 1798...

, where he stood against the much stronger HMS Orion

HMS Orion (1787)

HMS Orion was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Deptford on 1 June 1787 to the design of the , by William Bately...

. Sérieuse was reduced to a sinking wreck and foundered, while Martin was rescued by the British and taken prisoner to Gibraltar.

Released in December 1798, Martin was tasked with teaching duties. In 1801, he took command of the Indivisible

French ship Indivisible (1799)

Indivisible was a Tonnant class 80-gun ship of the line of the French Navy.Originally named the Indivisible in 1793, she was commissioned in Toulon on 23 September 1800. On 5 February 1803, she was renamed Alexandre, and recommissioned in Brest under captain Leveyer.In December, under captain...

. In 1803, he captained the Swiftsure

HMS Swiftsure (1787)

HMS Swiftsure was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She spent most of her career serving with the British, except for a brief period when she was captured by the French during the Napoleonic Wars...

.

In 1808 and 1809, he commanded the frigate Incorruptible

French frigate Incorruptible (1795)

The Incorruptible was a Romaine class frigate of the French Navy.On 15 July 1796, under captain Bescond, she fought against the 56-gun HMS Glatton.In 1800, she was involved in the battle of Dunkirk....

.

Martin retired in 1813 after having served ashore.

Sources and references

• Dictionnaire des capitaines de vaisseau de Napoléon, Danielle & Bernard Quintin, SPM, 2003, ISBN 2-901952-42-9