Jacques-Melchior Saint-Laurent, Comte de Barras
Encyclopedia
Jacques-Melchior Saint-Laurent, Comte de Barras was a French
Admiral
of the eighteenth century. He is best known for his service during the American War of Independence and especially during the Yorktown Campaign
.
, Rhode Island
. His orders from France were to mount an expedition against Newfoundland. Barras was persuaded by the Comte de Rochambeau to instead go southwards and rendezvous with Admiral De Grasse
who had brought his French fleet from the West Indies. The series of events led to the surrender of a British Army
at Yorktown.
in February 1782. Later Barras participated in the Battle of the Saintes
in the Caribbean Sea
where Admiral Rodney's ships broke the French line. The British victory led to the failure of a Franco-Spanish invasion plan against Jamaica.
Early Modern France
Kingdom of France is the early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century...
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
of the eighteenth century. He is best known for his service during the American War of Independence and especially during the Yorktown Campaign
Yorktown campaign
The Yorktown or Virginia campaign was a series of military maneuvers and battles during the American Revolutionary War that culminated in the decisive Siege of Yorktown in October 1781...
.
Yorktown
In early 1781 Barras' French squadron was based at NewportNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. His orders from France were to mount an expedition against Newfoundland. Barras was persuaded by the Comte de Rochambeau to instead go southwards and rendezvous with Admiral De Grasse
De Grasse
- People :* François Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasetilly, comte de Grasse , French admiral that helped George Washington during the siege of Yorktown in the American Revolutionary War* Joe De Grasse , film director...
who had brought his French fleet from the West Indies. The series of events led to the surrender of a British Army
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
at Yorktown.
The Saintes
The following year Barras served under De Grasse in the West Indies. Barras led a French expedition to capture MontserratFrench capture of Montserrat
The Capture of Montserrat was accomplished by a French naval expedition that seized the island of Montserrat from the British on 22 February 1782.-Capture:...
in February 1782. Later Barras participated in the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
where Admiral Rodney's ships broke the French line. The British victory led to the failure of a Franco-Spanish invasion plan against Jamaica.